People are wary of much of Brooklyn because they think its almost all black.

Let me say this for all my folk to hear:

Just because the majority of the people you see in an area are black, does NOT automatically make it a bad neighborhood.

In fact, if you walk around, you may see more 'white' folk than you think.

Perception is not always reality.


A friend hasnt gone much beyond her view of Brooklyn, because of what I state above.

The perception is, if it aint Manhattan, Queens, Bay Ridge, Willamsburg, Park Slope/Prospect Park/Cobble Hill, Ocean Parkway or Brooklyn Heights.... it's 'scary'.

Case in point:

She loves beef patties as much as yer average Caribbean folk.

If not more. :-)

I tell her there is a decent patty place a few city blox from her on Flatbush Avenue. Walking distance.

She has not gone. In nearly a year.

I tell her it is right outside the Nevins Street station.

She doesnt even know what train goes there.

Never mind that it is ONE (or two, depending on which train) stop away from her normal station that she hops off.

At this point, I have more than a sneaking suspicion that once I mention the term "Flatbush Avenue".. that is code for "mostly black folk".. and is therefore 'scary'.

Press her on it, and the excuse "I just dont have the time" will hang in the air.

Nevermind (and I stress this for folk who are not from New York) that it is less than a mile from her house. IN the neighborhood.

Now, Im not bashing her or anyone alse as being racist or bigoted. Theyre not. At all.
I wouldnt wanna know them if they were.

But it might give them an idea of why there are recent signs of "NO MAS Yuppies" or "Yuppie Go Home" graffiti'd around where they live.

They move to Brooklyn. They grow to like it, and yet act like most of Brooklyn is dirt.

Because too much of it is 'scary'.

Even tho much of Oz (Manhattan), where theyd rather live, is far scarier.

You dont need a passport to wander your own neighborhood, shit.

If you're gonna live somewhere.. LIVE there.

*sigh* This entry didnt start out as a rant.....
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