Brooklyn Ron

A Ghost of Christmas Past, in Brooklyn, of Course

Blogspot has done much to spread the art and craft of blogging, which in olden days might have been called diary-writing or, in really olden days, pampleteering, perhaps.

Now here's one from a self-declared native Brooklynite who reflects on old Fulton Street in Downtown, with a reverence that brings to mind old classic films, though with a certain special flavor and color.

Brooklyn has undergone tremendous demographic shifts in the post World War II years, moving from mostly ethnic white (with a smattering of blacks and Puerto Ricans) to largely black with Caribbean currents and then to the gentrifying whiter (though also very multi-cultural) borough that is today.

Of course, where we go from here, no one knows, certainly not the economists who failed to forecast the big mess that we're in now.

This blog post on Christmas past and Fulton Street past should be some reason for reflection among the thoughtful.

Here, in BrooklynBorn's own words, is how a weblogging experience got started:

"This blog started in my head when talking with a friend who moved here. She said, 'it's the greatest block ever...even though it's in B'klyn & a little sketchy!'"

I, too, would've had a strong feeling hearing that, and maybe have gotten a bit puffy inside; and, as they say, writing is fighting.

A Tree Grows in New Brooklyn: Coming of Age Stories by Caribbean-Born Oronde Ash

I like to call this place New Brooklyn.

Mostly I have in mind all the crazy development that's taking place, the new medium-high rise condos and the reno jobs like the old Watchtower building where someone slapped down 6 million dead presidents for a place to lay her head and view the East River.

The cultural and artistic underpinning of this New Brooklyn was laid over the past two decades by a group of young intellectuals who are never called intellectuals but rather hip hop artists, and who rarely disagree with that designation because it often translates into a paycheck, often a big one. Ask Jay-Z.

Now comes one who surely qualifies as a serious thinker by any scholar's definition, who has strung together some beautiful videos offering reflections on the life of a West Indian-born black kid growing up in late Twentieth Century Brooklyn.

His name is Oronde Ash [photo], and taken together his pieces are a coming-of-age tale, told in YouTube fashion that updates the reflections and truths once related by Betty Smith, who penned the classic "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" set in Williamsburg in the first years of the 1900s.

The honesty in the videos is striking, the rhythms are catchy, and the insights are universal but told with a style that belongs to the artist himself.

In my Net research I've discovered that Ash is completing a book "17 to Life," which is really as memoir of the artist as a (still) young man. Ash is a former assistant men's soccer coach at North Carolina State University and is a motivational speaker, having set up a company he calls "bygINCpresents."

To read a correspondence from Ash to us, click here.

And now, just below, is the "Tree Grows in Brooklyn" video. Others can be found by going to his YouTube page.

Protesters to Gov: This Land (Atlantic Yards) Was Made for You and Me

On sunny Saturday, May 3rd, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries told the crowd of hundreds gathered at Atlantic Yards that they should put their trust in their new Governor, David Paterson.

"Let's give Governor Paterson a chance to engage in a real dialogue with this community about this project,"  Jeffries said on a sunny May 3 Saturday afternoon.

The Assemblyman [photo] called Paterson "a person who understands the importance of community input."

The protesters were hoping the Governor joins them in calling for a halt to the demolition taking place for Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project, which envisions a new Nets stadium and (according to Ratner's web site) "commercial offices, retail establishments and a boutique hotel."

The project is side-by-side the borough's signature Williamsburg Savings Bank, which has been converted into condos and is anticipating a big name company as its anchor retail tenant, perhaps even Microsoft (see The Brooklyn Paper).

The Ratner project is so vast that opponents say it will destroy the character of that part of Brooklyn. The opponents also object to the use of eminent domain under which the state allows the developer to take possession of land within the footprint of the project. Already businesses have closed and the land on which they operated lies vacant.

Earlier that Saturday of the protest, many hundreds of others were in same area of Atlantic Yards but were demonstrating for the arena and the other buildings to be erected.

Opponents maintained that the pro crowd was made up mostly of union activists paid to attend and protest.

One thing seemed clear: Even if Ratner is able to overcome the obstacles posed by the poor economy and housing market, the opponents and elected officials who stand with them (Leticia James, David Yassky and others) will continue to stand in the way.

Download atlantic_yards_movie_real2.mov

Tony Avella: Mayoral Candidate Siding With Communities Against Big Developers

There he was on Saturday, May 3d, with the hundreds of Brooklynites opposed to Bruce Ratner's plan to build a Nets stadium at Atlantic Yards, along with a conversion of the signature Williamsburg Savings Bank building into condominiums.

Tony Avella [photo], Councilman from Queens, took the stage in the afternoon and joined several Brooklyn politicians in denouncing the Ratner plan as a kind of steamrolling over local residents and an abuse of the powers of eminent  domain.

Calling out to Bruce Ratner (who, of course, was not there), Avella told the enthusiastic crowd, "We're not going to let you destroy a neighborhood!"

He added that New York State "should not use eminent domain to give some developer millions of dollars."

Atlantic Yards is one of the biggest development projects in city history, though doubts have arisen lately as to Ratner's ability to carry out his plans given the sagging economy and real estate market.

Avella's presence at the anti-Ratner rally brought to mind his appearance some months ago on Gil Noble's "Like It Is" Sunday television program, on which he appeared with Councilman Charles Barron (one of the most radical African Americans every to occupy a seat in that local legislative body) and oppose the redevelopment of Central Harlem's W. 125th St. commercial strip, using the same kind of language he's employing in opposing Atlantic Yards.

Given his announced intentions to run for mayor in next year's election, we'd have to say we'll be in for a very exciting campaign.

Creator of U.S. Finance System Was Caribbean-American With Links to Brooklyn

In a speech that showed off his oratorical powers, grasp of history and appreciation of the pain of the sub-prime crisis, Barack Obama mentioned someone we should know more about.

That was Alexander Hamilton, the father of the American financial system whose hard money policies were balanced by the (sometimes hypocritical and racist) populism of Thomas Jefferson.

We can't help but note that the financial crisis of the moment - the sub-prime housing dilemma that was caused by greedy, predatory lenders and their co-conspirators - has been affecting Brooklyn far more than most urban areas in the country.

And the irony must be noted that Brooklyn is also the capital of Caribbean-America, a place that would have (we must believe) occupied a special place in the heart of Alexander Hamilton, who was born on the tiny island of Nevis and lived and prospered on the U.S. mainland as an immigrant.

As we note the importance of understanding history in dealing with this sub-prime mess, New Yorkers and Brooklynites should also be aware that Brooklyn was the home of another native of Nevis, who (like Hamilton) spent time in the New York State legislature and who fought against housing discrimination.

Bertram L. Baker (1898 to 1985) immigrated to Brooklyn, where in 1948 he became the first black person in the borough ever elected to office. Baker [photo, right] represented Bedford-Stuyvesant in the State Assembly for 22 years. In the mid-50s he authored what is considered to be the first law in the nation to outlaw housing discrimination.

[Note: Hamilton - born 1755 and died 1804 - also served in the New York State Assembly.]

[Note further: Baker was a beloved maternal ancestor of ours.]

Al Vann: Read This List. Your Street May be Named After a Slave Holder

We should give thanks to Councilman Al Vann for again raising the issue of the naming of Bedford-Stuyvesant's streets and avenues.

Councilman Vann's office has put together a list of Bed-Stuy's byways, with accompanying brief bios of the historical figures whose names now grace the street signs.

The irony here is that many of the figures were slave holder and slave traders.

Vann acknolwedges having a political as well as historical motive in putting this list together. He still is piqued that the City Council thwarted the wishes of himself and Councilman Charles Barron to have a section of Gates Avenue named after the late black activist Sonny Carson.

And so in making the case that many of Bed-Stuy's street names have, let's say, sullied backgrounds, he's also making the argument that the names should be, in many cases, changed.

In the newsletter that the Councilman sent out to his constituents, listing the streets names and their origins, he also included a list of black "heroes" and "sheroes" who would make honorable replacements.

We took it upon ourselves to add to that latter list the name of the late Bertram L. Baker, who was the first black elected official in Brooklyn (having won a seat to the State Assembly in 1948) and who lived for half a century on Jefferson Avenue and died right in his house there, a house which (in the words of Councilman Barron) is named after "a slave-holding pedophile."

We should also disclose here that Bert Baker was an honored ancestor of ours.

But more on all this later.

For now, those who care about Bed-Stuy should go through the following list of names and bio sketches that we put into a Web format, and find out which historical figures were slave holders, slave traders, anti-slavery heroes, or mere innocent bystanders.

Note: Keep in mind that in recent years the names of some Bed-Stuy streets - and parts of some other streets - have been renamed.

For example, Sumner Avenue was renamed Marcus Garvey Blvd.

We think this was a strange re-naming because Charles Sumner, the 19th century figure after whom the street was originally named, was one of the strongest anti-slavery politicians of his day. Go figure.

Be that as it may, enjoy the research.

Simply click the link just under this sentence, and then find and click the street name you want to investigate.

'Miss Brooklyn' Practices Saying 'Fugeddaboutit,' Slips on Runway

Leigh-Taylor Smith, the newly crowned Miss Brooklyn, may be from Manhattan by way of Virginia, but she's trying to strut like a Brooklynite.

The Brooklyn Paper reports that Smith, 22, doesn't really understand why so many Queens and Kings of the borough of Kings resent her.

“I can’t believe all the ‘controversy’ of me taking the title back to Manhattan,” Smith, 22, told The Brooklyn Paper this week. “I really didn’t expect it.”

She was crowned on Feb. 23 and borough residents expressed surprise and irritation that one of their very own, raised in the borough if not born here, did not win.

Pageant organizers have said the current revitalization of Brooklyn, which is bringing many out-of-towners to the borough, motivated them to revive participation in the Miss America  competition. It was last held in Brooklyn in 1991.

The organizers have said they opened it up to anyone residing in the state because there was not enough interest among Brooklyn residents (who apparently were way too busy working or studying for such things).

In Last State of Boro, Marty Lauds Hotel Boom, New Arabic School

Here are excerpts from Borough President Marty Markowitz's last State of the Borough address:

THE WORLD IS FLOCKING TO BROOKLYN. . . WHY DO NEW RESIDENTS KEEP FLOCKING HERE? AND WHERE ON EARTH DID THEY GET ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL BROWNSTONES! . . .

[These changes are opening up] NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BROOKLYN'S CHILDREN OF THE GLOBE TO PURSUE CAREERS IN FIELDS LIKE DIPLOMACY AND FOREIGN SERVICE.

THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT THE OPENING OF THE KHALIL GIBRAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY - AN ACCREDITED PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH A LANGUAGE PROGRAM IN ARABIC, STRUCTURED JUST LIKE ANY OTHER SECULAR ACADEMIC PROGRAM. 

AND FRANKLY, CULTIVATING ARABIC SPEAKERS IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE, AS OUR NATION DEEPLY NEEDS ARABIC SPEAKERS FOR ITS DIPLOMATIC AND NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE EFFORTS…

. . . TOTAL BROOKLYN TOURISM INCREASED BY MORE THAN 10 PERCENT IN 2006, AND EVEN MORE LAST YEAR. . .

. . .THE REAL STORY OF OUR HOTEL BOOM IS MUCH DEEPER THAN COUNTING OUR 700 NEW HOTEL ROOMS — AND THE 2000 MORE ON THE WAY.

IT’S THE STORY OF WHO IS STAYING IN THOSE ROOMS. THE MOTHER FROM TRINIDAD & TOBAGO VISITING HER DAUGHTER IN EAST FLATBUSH— THE DANISH ROCK BAND HERE TO PLAY A GIG IN WILLIAMSBURG — PASSENGERS FROM THE QUEEN MARY 2 AND CROWN PRINCESS . . .. THE COUPLE FROM MICHIGAN VISITING THEIR KIDS IN CARROL GARDENS . . .

. . . HOTELS ARE CROPPING UP FROM BEDFORD-STUYVESANT TO EMMONS AVENUE IN SHEEPSHEAD BAY, EVEN ON THE SHORES OF THE FABLED GOWANUS CANAL — WHO KNEW?

Death of Ledger Causes Reflection on Fickleness of Brooklyn's Boom

He was Oscar-nominated and a symbol of the new wave reflecting openness and honesty in things sexual and artistic.

And so when Heath Ledger – the 'Brokeback Mountain' star found dead, with prescription pills near his bed – moved some time ago to Brooklyn with his Baby Mommy and co-star Michelle Williams, it was an affirmation to many, mostly of the newcomer variety, of the new popularity of their recently chosen borough.

The presence of shy Australian Ledger was a particular source of delight for gawkers and realtors in Bococa, that strangely named neighborhood between Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope to which Ledger and Williams had transplanted themselves along with their little daughter.

(See previous BrooklynRon post on the 'Brits Coming to Brooklyn.')

Then, several months ago, Ledger and Williams did the thing that movie stars do. They said goodbye to each other and to the young coupling that had delivered a child, and they fled to new relationships and new places.

Ledger's relocation to Manhattan left many to say that this so-called rise of Bococa was nothing more than an illusion, brought to life by a handful of glittering personalities who chose, for the moment, to be side by side with other newcomers, many of them in Brooklyn only because they could not afford Manhattan rents.

(See New York Times piece back then on 'Brooklyn's Fragile Eco-System.')

Today there is much reflecting on this and other topics and emotions related to the death of Heath Ledger in the blogosphere, notably the Gawker and Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn.

On King Day, Markowitz (a Hillary Backer) Praises Barack Obama

When Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was asked how this Martin Luther King Day was different from others, he answered without hesitation.

It is, he said, different because Barack Obama's run for the presidency is an historic occurrence, and King would have been most proud.

The key thing to know here is the Markowitz is officially backing New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

But Brooklyn being a black borough (one third of the residents are of Afro descent), any politician with real connections to the people (and Marty does connect) has to give Barack his props.

Speaking of King's goals of racial justice and unity, Markowitz told a Channel 12 Brooklyn cable news reporter: "Barack Obama exemplifies that entirely."

Later in the morning, speaking to the huge crowd at the annual MLK event at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Markowitz said Obama stands for the very things that Brooklyn represents.

"Ethnic diversity is the source of our strength and our power," Markowitz said.

[We should not that on hand for the event also was our friend New York Times sports columnist Bill Rhoden, author of the still fast-selling book "Forty Million Dollar Slaves," a scholarly lament on racism in the sports industry, and racism manifested in the minds and behavior of black athletes themselves.]

[Please note that above photo of Obama was taken for the New York Times by Ozier Muhammad.]