Clinton Hill Chill tshirts

[redacted] I'm sure you [could try] asking one of the young african american males you saw wearing it about purchasing one.

MOD NOTE: troll-y crap redacted

double post

bknest wrote: I don't appreciate the editing of my post. Nothing I said was "troll-y crap"(whatever that is!). The poster stated:

I've been noticing people in the nabe wearing t-shirts that say, "Clinton Hill Chill" on them. Where can I buy one?

My reply was you can't, you have to be part of the community. Which I'm sure if you were, you wouldn't have had a problem asking the young african american males you saw "in the nabe" wearing the t-shirts about where to purchase one. I don't see whats wrong with this reply, I think it's a valid statement. Had you inquired further you also might've found out that the shirts were handed out on our 9th Annual Clinton Hill Day in August, which is a community event. No we don't get recognized on the various blogs, forums, etc. that are dedicated to keeping the pulse of "the nabe" but we have a great turn out every year by simply using the underground super highway...WORD OF MOUTH!! Some of you live in the neighborhood but are not part of the community. When I go to the vote for local elections it reflects the make up of the old neighborhood, when I take my kids to go school it's the same thing. So I get the perception that people do want to live in the neighborhood, they do not want to be part of a community that's been here.

my man/woman has got some anger! Dude just wants to know about a t-shirt... relax!

I'm not angry at all. And Carmen you may have seen 2 white chicks wearing the shirts(I seriously doubt it) but over a hundred were handed out clinton hill day and the people who attended were people with ties to the neighborhood for generations who happen to be predominately african american. Also, why must you put words in my mouth?! Read my post again and you will see nowhere did I refer to this theory you're alluding to. I know what the shirts were made for and know more than likely who would be seen wearing them(I actually did some of the handing out of shirts). I also did not allude to keeping anyone out or any "supermovement". I notice on this site that anytime someone who has been in "the nabe" for a long time makes a comment or observation about the area they were born and bred in, people in here get so hostile and emotional and dont want to give any credence or validity to what they're speaking on. It's actually quite mind boggling but it's this same elitist attitude that keeps "the nabe" polarized and not communal.

You're calling the tone on this board hostile, but chastising the OP for not asking a stranger where he or she bought her shirt? How do you know the person wasn't across the street? If I see someone wearing something that I like I rarely talk up to them and ask where they purchased it, and that has nothing to do with me being unfriendly or not wanting to be a part of the "community." It's just my personality. I don't think the OP did anything wrong by asking here where the shirts came from- it seems like a totally legitimate use of this board.

bknest wrote: [quote=jackson]oh boy, another one of these threads.... Here we go again...

'Scuse me I thought the board was to discuss the nabe. If you have something to add or refute please by all means do so. There will always be threads like this face it, as long as theres a definitive divide between ppl from the neighborhood and ppl new to it( and believe me there is). Why not use the forum for discussion instead being so quick to dismiss it?!

prob because these threads happen aprox 6 times a week. If you want to find threads with people fighting about gentrification, simply look for any thread with more than 30 posts.

Carmen wrote: [quote=bknest][quote=jackson]oh boy, another one of these threads.... Here we go again...

'Scuse me I thought the board was to discuss the nabe. If you have something to add or refute please by all means do so. There will always be threads like this face it, as long as theres a definitive divide between ppl from the neighborhood and ppl new to it( and believe me there is). Why not use the forum for discussion instead being so quick to dismiss it?!

prob because these threads happen aprox 6 times a week. If you want to find threads with people fighting about gentrification, simply look for any thread with more than 30 posts.

I'm not looking to fight w/ anyone. If these threads happen so often...Don't you think there's a reason?! The people that lived here for years are affected NOT the people moving in. If I was new or lived in a neighborhood and saw someone wearing a shirt w/ the name of said neighborhood, I don't think it would take much to ask about the shirt. Obviously they live in the same nabe(more than likely before you) so why not be neighborly and engage them?! This is how ppl meet their fellow neighbors most times, random conversation. I don't think it's the same as just asking about some prada shoes or whatever, had she asked she probably wouldve found out about an event that the community has been doing for almost ten years. And it's funny that besides the moderator who replied 1st no one had anything to say about the other points I brought up in my post like voter turn out for local elections not reflecting the new make up of the hood or schools not reflecting this as well. No one inquired about Clinton Hill day, where it is and what it entails. We're just so quick to get defensive. I dont think my first post was hostile at all as I'm sure if it was the moderator wouldve edited it once again!

Undoubtedly, b/c they really dont care about the significance of these issues - like you said it doesnt affect them. Their just passing thru - til something better comes along why would they bother to have any REAL ties to a neighborhood that they do not intend to stay in, raise their children in. Being a part of a community is just that, please see this neighborhood for what it is & not for what you want it to be.

To them that t shirt is "hip" and says to those they (really fear) that Im "down", I can "relate" b/c Im rocking the "hood pass" so to speak.

MOD NOTE: if you're new to this site (or maybe even if you're not) please take a minute to review the rules. there's a link at the top of every page.

the one that come to mind right now is the one about not shouting "you're all a bunch of gentrifying yuppies!!!!" but instead being nice.

i bring this up as a general point because it would be great if this thread didn't deteriorate.

k thx.

sweet tea wrote:

MOD NOTE: if you're new to this site (or maybe even if you're not) please take a minute to review the rules. there's a link at the top of every page.

the one that come to mind right now is the one about not shouting "you're all a bunch of gentrifying yuppies!!!!" but instead being nice.

i bring this up as a general point because it would be great if this thread didn't deteriorate.

k thx.

Point taken...I think I'm being pretty cordial. But it's something thats close to my heart. I LOVE my community w/ a passion. Do you some of have close friends that you known for 20 years or better and still keep in contact? Now imagine still keeping in contact w/ 30-50 of them, their parents, uncles, aunts, cousins their children etc...Thats how it is for us that are still here. We are close knit.

Guvna wrote: I was at CH day, at least for about 15 minutes since I had to go somewhere (my life story). While it was a diverse crowd, it definately had more AA than other races. Still, I wouldnt say that it reflects that newbies dont care or want to be a part of the nabe/hood. It might, but I dont think so. Why? Well, it was like a typical black cultural event. The music, food, and stuff for sale reflected that. naturally then the bulk of the people that stayed there would've been black, as opposed to those who passed through yet still enjoyed it in their own way. I dont say that as a negative, and I know for a fact that the organizers did what they could to invite more diverse vendors and participants, but in the end the event was in my view a black cultural event. Nothing wrong with that, and I suspect that over time it will become more diverse and that will be manifested in the planning/programming. Maybe then the music, food, and merchandise will sustain a more diverse crowd over the course of the day. I wouldnt read too much into the racial makeup of attendees at that particular event just yet.

Actually it will always predominately AA because most of the people that come, live in, come from or have ties to the neighborhood that goes back for generations. This is THE clinton hill COMMUNITY and if you really wanted to be part the community it wouldnt be about accomodating you because it went on before you and will go on after. You are WELCOME but it's not about changing anything. Accept it for what it is not what you want it to be. And there was nothing for sale, it's not about that so I'm almost unsure if we're talking about the same event. A black cultural event?! lol
Y'all kill me for real. So are the various street fairs in the city white cultural events cause the majority of attendees are white and food reflects that? We have to change or alter what we've been doing for almost ten years because an influx of non-minorities live in the hood?! Do you hear yourselves?! It's comes across as very elitist to say the least.

Actually Guvna, wine & cheese are quite my forte as it is for many of my closest friends & family - sure youd like to think our palettes are only accustomed to soul food
I believe you were not at Clinton Hill day as it most definitely was not a street fair, no vendors pushing their products, no one selling "stop the N Word" tshirts. Its 1 day in the year that the neighborhood gets together young, old & indifferent to pay homage to this place we call home, shall I say it, its the quentessential brooklyn block party...somethings will never change. Please note that everyone is welcome & nothing is for sale, not food, not water NOTHING - everything from the cotton candy machine for the children to all the food & beverage you'd like is given back to the community because this is what we do.
I have to disagree about your views on street fairs being dominated by a certain nationality. This is NY - the culture capital of the world! My family & I partake in many events not directly related to our race, and are quite comfortable doing so - adaptability is keen to living in the world as we are not here by ourselves so yes we do appreciate the diversity around us. What comes across on these forums is the sense that the newcomers want to change everything to cater to their needs instead of adapting to their surroundings, after all you chose to live here. Therefore, Im certain you did your research...
Their children dont attend the schools in their 'nabe'. If anyone needs to feel "officially welcomed" , come out and meet your neighbors, interact without the fear of (whatever it is you think may happen to you), get invloved with whats going on around here, stop complaining and whining about what we need & what they dont have & blah, blah, blah. If you were really planning to take root here, these trivial complaints would be inconsequential to you, you'd be focused on who your community leaders, are what goes on in these schools, having homes that you could actually afford to raise your families in, but no - you cant find a place to purchase organic this, not enough yoga spots, need a decent whatever...please stop with this who me song and dance, it kills ME.

Mami amor wrote: Actually Guvna, wine & cheese are quite my forte as it is for many of my closest friends & family - sure youd like to think our palettes are only accustomed to soul food
I believe you were not at Clinton Hill day as it most definitely was not a street fair, no vendors pushing their products, no one selling "stop the N Word" tshirts. Its 1 day in the year that the neighborhood gets together young, old & indifferent to pay homage to this place we call home, shall I say it, its the quentessential brooklyn block party...somethings will never change. Please note that everyone is welcome & nothing is for sale, not food, not water NOTHING - everything from the cotton candy machine for the children to all the food & beverage you'd like is given back to the community because this is what we do.
I have to disagree about your views on street fairs being dominated by a certain nationality. This is NY - the culture capital of the world! My family & I partake in many events not directly related to our race, and are quite comfortable doing so - adaptability is keen to living in the world as we are not here by ourselves so yes we do appreciate the diversity around us. What comes across on these forums is the sense that the newcomers want to change everything to cater to their needs instead of adapting to their surroundings, after all you chose to live here. Therefore, Im certain you did your research...
Their children dont attend the schools in their 'nabe'. If anyone needs to feel "officially welcomed" , come out and meet your neighbors, interact without the fear of (whatever it is you think may happen to you), get invloved with whats going on around here, stop complaining and whining about what we need & what they dont have & blah, blah, blah. If you were really planning to take root here, these trivial complaints would be inconsequential to you, you'd be focused on who your community leaders, are what goes on in these schools, having homes that you could actually afford to raise your families in, but no - you cant find a place to purchase organic this, not enough yoga spots, need a decent whatever...please stop with this who me song and dance, it kills ME.

There it goes again. I never said YOU dont like wine & cheese. I said the majority of the blacks in CH wouldnt be excited about an all day wine & cheese event in CH. I stand by that. That may change though, we seem to be getting more wine shops in the area. Not seen any gourmet cheese spots yet though. For the record, wine & cheese dont really do it for me.

There's a lot of other stuff going on in your post. As for Clinton Hill day, let me just say this: I was at a major event on a main Clinton Hill Street that was widely publicized, organized by oldheads, and very well attended. Whether it was called Clinton Hill day or not, it was most definately a neighborhood event. My observations are just as valid, regardless of the name of the event.

Going to street fairs can be fun. My point was that most of them are connected with an ethnicity/nationality. They feature the food and music of the people hosting the event. A good example of that would be the recent West Indian day parade. Lots of white people attended, but the vast majority were black, and West Indian blacks dominated within the blacks that attended. Why? because they have a higher appreciation of the food and music. Its a mere novelty for most others that attend, whereas it means so much more to the West Indians. Anyway, this point has been beaten to death.

Most parents I know, in all neighborhoods, send their kids to the schools that they think are the best. Parents of all races. I dont have kids, so I cannot confirm what race the attendees at the parent teacher meetings are, but I'm not sure thats a good barometer for whether people want to be a part of the community.

The other stuff seems to be about people complaining about services/amenities. If a large population of Indians move into CH, you will hear complaints from them about the lack of stores selling X spices, fabric, etc. If a large population of Italians move in, they'll complain about the olives, pasta, sauce, whatever Italians like. People want what they like, and complain when they cant get it. I have a friend who moved out to Jersey a few years ago. He comes back to Brooklyn every two weeks to get his hair cut. Would he be any less of a Jersey boy if he bitched about not finding a decent barber in Jersey?? Doesnt make sense.

This is like a bad version of the West Side Story!

bknest wrote: I wanted to come on here, contribute to the forums to give a perspective of someone thats from the neighborhood as most of your are not.

...What, you're clairvoyant and know everyone's address? That's amazing! How do you do that???

....Oh, wait, I get it, it's another "unless you had x% type of racial makeup and were a resident for 3.5 generations you're an outsider and don't know what it's really like here" conversation.

Well, since you say you're leaving, I'll just say that "it's been...interesting talking to you," and that perhaps it's your antagonism that may be putting people off. Just a thought.