The End of Black Harlem

Summary: In “The End of Black Harlem” it explains the hardship of the poor black neighborhoods in Harlem. We can see how they are targeted because they are poor. In addition we learn that many of these people don’t like the changes that are being made in Harlem. Due to this, the people trying to change it (the rich whites), judge the people in Harlem that don’t agree to it. This is because they say that they aren’t thankful for something good that is happening to them and their community. It also explains the knowledge that kids have about the topic. There are some kids that ask what is going on and others that know that all the changes that aren’t happening aren’t for them because of their race and lack of money. Furthermore, talks about the increase in money to the Harlem communities housing and how it’s affecting them. Also about the government that they believed would do so much for them, did nothing.

Opinion: I would say that I agree with the authors point of view on the changes being made in Harlem. This is because he is correct that Harlem is a big target towards white rich people because they see their neighborhood as weak. I think that when they say that they are trying to make Harlem a better place, it’s not “better” for the people already there, but for the people that want to be there.

Questions/Answer:

• The author mentions a boy in the article what age was he?

• What do people think about black Harlem ending?- The people think that the changes that are being made have nothing to do with them. They think that Harlem is being changed to the better to benefit the whites and not the blacks.

• Why do the people blame the mayor in what has been done with Harlem?- The people blame the mayor because he didn’t protect Harlem the way that they thought he would. Even though it’s not just the mayor’s choice but many people as a vote in general.

• Why do people believe that it’s the end of black Harlem if the black people that live in Harlem will still be there?

Quotes/Explanation:

• According to Micheal Henry Adams “a few boys passing by on their bikes understood what was at stake. As we chanted, “Save Harlem now!” one of them inquired, “Why are y’all yelling that?”- Basically Adams is trying to inform us that many of the young people don’t know what is going on. Furthermore, so that young people can get more familiar with what is happening not only in their own community but also in the world around them.

• Micheal Henry Adams writes “There is something about black neighborhoods, or at least poor black neighborhoods, that seem to make them irresistible to gentrification.” Adams’ point is to explain to the reader that balck neighbors, especially the pores ones are always a target. Furthermore, people are mostly likely to pick those neighborhoods or communities out of the rest.

•  “I tell you, they have a plan. Harlem is too well placed. The white man is ready to take it back.”

• “They have no idea how insulting they are being, denying us our heritage and our stake in Harlem’s future.”

Purpose of Article: The article’s primary purpose is to inform the reader about how Harlem is a big target to people with money. I believe that the writer seeks to achieve for people, not only in Harlem, but also outside of Harlem, to get knowledge of what is happening and the reason why they are being targeted.

Audience: The audience is anyone of any age, sex and background. I believe that the level of education could be a person that is above 14 because at the age people can understand things better and should know what is happening in the world around them.I dont think a person should have a business background because i think it’s common sense. Maybe the reading academic should be said before 14 year old or above because of vocabulary. I don’t think that the audience should have background information because with this article there are learning about why the gentrification of Harlem is happening.

 

As Population Shifts in Harlem, Blacks Lose Their Majority

Summary: In “As Population Shifts in Harlem, Blacks Lose Their Majority” it talks about the increase of whites taking over the black communities in Harlem and continuing with other places where black communities are. It then continues to explain the history of what used to be in the past in Harlem and who lived there. It explains how african americans know that they were there first and whites have no right to take what was once there. In addition, how whites have no right to take away their history and have the power to kick them out of Harlem. On the contrary it also explains how black are also being racist to whites in the way that they don’t want whites’ complexity in Harlem and judge all of them for trying to take where they live , when not all of them are up to that.

Opinion: I would say that I have mixed feelings about this article because i don’t completely agree but i also don’t completely disagree. For example, I agree because I don’t think they should change the way that Harlem is in the way that people are changing the history behind certain buildings, but I do think that making them again is better since what they were made of were probably worn out by now and it would be dangerous if it did collapse.

Questions/Answer:

• Is Harlem being a haven for African Americans the reason why the black people don’t want more whites than blacks?

• Are blacks being racist to whites when saying they don’t want any of them in Harlem?- Suggs explain how some african american are blaming her for selling houses to other people of other races but it’s not because she doesn’t want african an=merican but because it’s business. If she saw another race and told them they can’t live there it would be racist towards them.

• Why do african americans believe that Harlem will just be a remembrance of them?- They believe that because they believe that now that whites are coming in they think that all african american will leave and there will but nothing that they will be able to do for them to be able to stay there.

• What does Willie Kathyn Suggs mean when he is convincing white people that black are not going to “eat them”?

Quotes/Explanation:

• According to Leslie Gordon Goffe “By 2008, this had doubled and tripled and quadrupled to 13,800. Since then, many more white”. Goffe’s point is to show statistically how the people in the neighborhood have changed. In addition shows how Harlem is no longer a black people area but now more white then black.

• Leslie Gordon Goffe writes “In Fort Greene,Brooklyn, another black New York neighbourhood being bleached white by gentrifiers”. Basically Goffe is trying to say that not only are whites changing Harlem, but also other black neighbors. Furthermore, shows the bigger power that whites have over blacks.

• “What am I supposed to do? Tell African-Americans whose house I am selling to sell only to other African-Americans?” That,Suggs shrieks, “is called racism.”

• “If we go, they will speak about us as history, saying ‘here used to be an African restaurant’ and here used to be this but it is not here any more. It won’t be ‘Little Senegal’ any more. It’s not Harlem, any more.”

Purpose of Article: The purpose of the article was to further explain the circumstances that balck neighborhoods are going through. It shows that they struggle with living in a place where they once felt safe. Now they live in fear that they won’t be able to have the life they had before due to all these changes that whites are doing.

Audience: The audience is everyone that is in Harlem and outside of Harlem, all around the world that way they know what is going on around them. I don’t think that the audience should be of a specific background or religion or race because I think it’s important for all people to know that it is 2020 and because they are still being treated with more power than others. I think that the level of education a person should have is when they are able to read well and have a better understanding of this happening and not just young that wouldn’t know. I think that the audience should have experience in reading to be able to understand but not experience in business. The audience doesn’t have to have prior knowledge in this subject because with this article they will learn.

 

The Harlem Gentrification: From black to white

Summary: In “The Harlem Gentrification: From black to white” it explains how many people have it all wrong towards the disagreement of, if Harlem should be a place for whites or for blacks. The authors give opinions of other people to show how they also believe that show african Americans don’t have the fault that they need to live there. He shows and explains that people can’t say that they don’t like to be discriminated against, yet they discriminate against white people by saying that only african american are supposed to live in Harlem and no other race. He explains how this disagreement is making everyone discriminate towards each other fighting for Harlem like it is an object when it is not.

Opinion: In my opinion, I think that the author should make some really good point to understand a different version of what most authors usually talk about. The main points that their authors use are about money for rent and race history, but they don’t mention how some african american dont have a choice of where they live and this authors does. I also agree when the authors says that there is space for all of the races to be together in one place without fighting for Harlem like if it was a property.

Questions/Answer:

• When calling white people “poison” would that be considered racist?

• Does one race really have to move so the other one comes in?- Though blacks and whites are in a way fighting for Harlem,there’s a lot of space for both races, yet they still chose to fight because when black sees the past, whites see the future.

• Are black more worried about race or money?- Most people see the problem as the whites coming into Harlem as being a bad thing. They don’t see the true meaning behind this whole situation which is how some people don’t have much choice for whatever reason or money wise?

• Were the black race the only ones that lived in Harlem in the past or was the a small percentage of other races as well?

Quotes/Explanation:

• Sam Roberts complicates matters further when he writes “Harlem, said Michael Henry Adams, a historian of the neighborhood and a resident, “is poised again at a point of pivotal transition.” In making this comment Robert urges people to know that with the return of white people in Harlem, Harlem is now “poisoned”.

• In Sam Roberts view “There’s a lot of new housing to allow people to come into the area without displacing people there”.Sam Roberts point is that point races don’t have to leave because there is a lot of space for both. In addition, new housing means more people welcomed.

• “Some experts say the decline in the black population may be overstated because poorer people are typically undercounted by the census, and Harlem has a disproportionate number of poor people.”

• “It’s a mistake to see this only as a story of racial change,” said Scott M. Stringer, the Manhattan borough president. “What’s interesting is that many African-Americans are living in Harlem by choice, not necessity.”

Purpose of Article: The article’s primary purpose is to show another side of the story between the whole situation between the fight towards Harlem. He shows and explains how there are different reasons why African american are fighting for Harlem and not just because of the difference of the race. Furthermore to help others understand what the fight is really about.

Audience: The audience can be anyone in and out of Harlem to know what is going on. I think it is also important to the students in city college because they will be going to school there and they come from all over the place and should get to know what is happening in the community that they will be studying in. The audience doesn’t have to have a particular background or religion. The level of education that the audience should have to be to a certain age in which they can understand what is going on. The audience should have experience with reading but not about business. I don’t think that the audience should have general knowledge about this subject because they learn when reading the article.