Attacks on Mexicans Leave Neighborhood in Turmoil
This is such a sad story. I know that neighborhood like the back of my hand. I used to live within walking distance of Port Richmond Ave. It does illustrate that racial tensions aren’t just a white/black issue or a white/Hispanic issue. The demographics of the neighborhood changed significantly since the 90’s; from mostly black to mostly Mexican. Even Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, fellow Latinos, have felt the tensions of the changes. I hope they can calm the waters in this situation, but rapid demographic changes do illicit strong reactions, no matter who is being effected.
We’ve seen similar tensions in other neighborhoods in NYC as well as other parts of the country (or world) when a new ethnic group comes into an already established community. Asians seen as the other, by blacks. Jews seen as the interlopers by Latinos, etc., etc.
Giving into the meme of some group trying to make a better way for themselves as the “other” is as old as human history. I feel like I’m having a Rodney King moment. Can’t we all just get along? Are we doomed to reenact this archaic tendency given to us by our primal ancestors?