I’m not sure how to make sense of this story other than to see the reactions of these New Yorkers as “racist.” Anyone who knows me well also knows that I am very careful about throwing out that word. But in this case, I think I can use it freely…and without constraint.
The attached article from the New York Times is a bit long, but it’s well worth the read. I’ll spare the details and not pontificate about all of the things that I see in it. However, I do want to say one quick thing.
All of these people who are complaining about Asian Indians “taking over” this Queens, New York neighborhood seem to imagine that their people, the relatives who came before them some 60-80 years ago, did NOT take over that very same Queens neighborhood from some other cultural group. For you see, at some point in the not too distant past, the relatives of these Asian Indian haters who are featured in the article were the ne’er-do-well “invaders” who were destroying some other group’s way of life (and I don’t mean some Native American group). Their relatives were the scourge, the vermin. THEY were the ones who did not want to assimilate; THEY were the foreigners; THEY were the people who were going to ruin the flavor of what the neighborhood had become.
It’s rather remarkable how we don’t like to look backward…and how what comes around seems to inevitably go around.
By the way, I love the gesture of Mr. Patel, the one Indian owner, offering to sell the property to anyone who wants it–at a loss. “Okay…quiet now please.”
When I just started reading this article, I did not see the big deal in building a hotel . What struck me was that some people were worried about the possibility that the hotel will be used by prostitutes. Now come on that is ridiculous beyond belief. I would understand if they felt that way if they had a reason to, but seriously at the least give the new people a chance without judging them beforehand. Hotels are made to house people who visit from other places. They are not just made for prostitution. There may be places where people do those kinds of things, but you cannot just make that judgment. Instead of welcoming them, they are already receiving accusations without being given a chance to do what they are trying to do for their income and expansion. It made me laugh when people seemed to make a big deal out of a hotel replacing an ice cream shop. I understand that I would be a little upset being an ice-cream lover, however I cannot imagine people protesting and making such a big deal. I understand that it is sad to see that all the “hang out” spots are beginning to disappear and are being replaced by stores and hotels, but what are you going to do? This is life. Years ago these people came and actually took over and killed people to live on these lands. How did the Native Americans think when Europeans just came all of a sudden and literally took over their lands and lived their way of life? We all know the answer to this question. These people (“foreigners) changed everything and brought their life here. Everyone has an equal right to live the American Dream as long as they are not hurting others or doing anything illegal. Therefore, these Indian people are allowed to bring their life and their life style here if they wish. They are not endangering anyone or breaking any rules. Bottom line you cannot stop them from expanding on their business. It is a two way street. The Indians are not taking over and doing like a dictatorship over the town. Those Indian people were able to buy the property because someone (the previous owner) was willing to sell the property to them and the Indian people did not just take over. What I found remarkable was the comment that Mr. Patel made that he is willing to sell the property at a $100,000 loss if anyone was willing to come forward and buy it making the point that people protest that the ice cream shop is of a lot of emotional value, but no one is willing to come forward and buy it. Another thing that bothered me was when one man said that “They’re renting their rooms to people from their country.” I mean seriously are you kidding me? I do not believe that these people would 1. Lose money by giving rooms to their people for free, 2. I do not believe that there are so many Indian people who would just come to the hotel, and 3. I do not believe that the owner would deny other people rooms just to give them to the Indian people as first preference. All hotels are on a first come first serve bases. That argument did not even make any sense. Finally I want to say that I am not biased at all. This is not about me. This is not about “my” people. I feel sad for these people whose environment change is affecting them, but I do not agree with these peoples’ justifications and arguments and protests because they are not strong enough and some of them plain just do not make sense period.
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I have seen that Sam doesn’t use the term racism lightly. Once I saw that he was using it in this article I knew this was important and significant. And after reading the article, I agree with him completely; if some of the statements by those ignorant white people are not racist, I don’t know what is. I wrote a blog entry earlier in the semester discussing how many of us see such mininmal racism in our communities that it is easy to see equality is here. However, there still are citites and towns with collective racist attitudes. This town in New York is a good example of one of them. And these people are not just openly racist; they refuse to accept that they are openly racist. The man who is interviewed is trying to say race has nothing to do with it yet he keeps talking about why these people are not American and how the American way is the right way. He is a proud owner of the white is right attitude that many people like him seem to know and love.
No one in their right mind can stand there and complain that another race, religion, or other affiliated people are “taking over” their land. Look at the fucking Native Americans do these jackasses really think that their white ancestors were born with the rights to their land? No, they instead slayed an entire race of people so this guy can have a white folk ice cream store to complain about. This article is a joke, like more and more I am baffled with every one of these posts I read from Sam that these people exist. I just want to give serious credit to the first few South Asian families who took and chance and moved in this bleach stained town. They probably got such odd looks and so many things were said about them (let alone done to them) and they took it so their people could end up prospering. Instead of an article discussing the hatred and negativity that the media loves to showcase, I would like to see one dedicated to the bullshit that these people probably had to endure at the price of success. I bet there is a solid story behind the struggles of some of these families who now have lots of money and happiness. The one guy in the interview said it best: the situation at hand is jealousy. The white people are jealous that the South Asians are doing bigger and better things with their town than they ever could. Frankly the article made me laugh because I could tell that that is what Mr. Patel is doing while reading it. He knows how pathetic these people are because he was willing to put $100,000 on it.
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I really like this article because it is exposing an issue that I believe is happening and will continue to happen in many neighborhoods across the United States. I would firstly like to add that this article is not merely an issue of race, that could be part of it but it includes issues of culture, language, religion and ways of life in a community that are being challenged by a group of people. Moreover it explores an ethnic group that is now asserting itself economically and socially in this country; Indians or South Asians.
Indian Americans are perhaps the most successful immigrant and ethnic group in the United States. They account for one of the highest standards of living, they have on average a very high median family income and they are very entrepreneurial. That is quite evident in this article whereby they are literally opening businesses and basically displacing the predominantly white-owned businesses in this area. In this instance prejudice and a backlashes is quite expected. Therefore I am not surprises by the reactions of the local community. Even if the influx of Indians is likely to revive by all accounts what appears to be a depressed and declining neighborhood, the fact that they are viewed “foreigners” is evident of prejudicial, xenophobic and racist tendencies that exist in many people. If it was ‘Sam’s Club’, ‘the Hilton’, or a ‘Starbucks’ replacing the ‘Frozen Cup’ I doubt this hullabaloo would have happened in the first place.
What is happening in that Queens neighborhood is definitely happening in many neighborhoods across the country. The influx of immigrants from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Latin America has transformed neighborhoods across the United States, many of them for the better but often the host community mostly White and/or African Americans feel uncomfortable to see their once cherished neighborhoods swarming with immigrants speaking foreign languages, and seeing their long established businesses replaced with ethnic stores stocked with anything from ethnic food, clothing music, international calling cards, etc. This is the angle that I am looking at this story from. Not really a racial issue but rather a seismic shift as America confronts its new comers with its long established ones. A lot of the tension is between are between people of the same race, for example African-Americans vs. Africans and Afro West Indians.
Anyway going back to the article, I do not see these immigrants as people who are leeching welfare or causing crime, but rather they are opening businesses, creating jobs and adding to the overall benefit of this community. It is a pity that the local community complaining does not see this.
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I am always angered by racism, and I think that a lot of that probably comes from the fact that I am multiracial myself. It really hits me hard when I hear about people being racist or prejudiced against certain groups of people. I wonder if the people in the article realize how ridiculous they sound. In addition, I wonder how some of them can say some of the things that they say and yet claim that they are not racist. For example, Michael Augugliaro said, “They’re turning the neighborhood into a third-world country. We don’t want it over here to look like Richmond Hill or Jackson Heights.” Then after realizing how he sounded when his wife looked at him, he added, “I’m not a racist.” Oh, really? What would you call it, then?
I was especially shocked by Bruce Holloway’s quote, “They don’t want to look like Americans, they don’t want to dress like Americans, and they don’t want to speak English.” I can understand the frustration he has with people not speaking English to a certain extent. My brother lives in Miami, and I have noticed when visiting him that there are many Spanish-speaking people there. That’s fine, and I don’t mind it when foreigners come to live in America and want to speak their native languages. But I do get very annoyed when people in customer service positions don’t speak English. I mean, I wouldn’t move to a non-English-speaking country and expect to get a job in the service industry where I would have to communicate with people and answer their questions. I can’t really understand the other parts of his statement, though. Why does it matter what people wear or what they look like? Why would anyone ever try to change their physical appearance to look like they are from another culture? Why would anyone even care about what others wear or what country they look like they came from?
The end of the article was quite touching. I love that Swaranjit Singh is wearing a turban in his campaign posters and has an American flag in the background. I can picture such a powerful image when I think about what those posters must look like. I feel like so many people are probably angered or at least a bit uncomfortable when they see those posters because a lot of Americans, especially since September 11, have an instinctual racism when it comes to anyone wearing a turban. It is sick, twisted, and sad, but I have witnessed a lot of people acting afraid when they see people wearing turbans. But personally, I love that Singh put an American flag in his posters along with his picture because it is a statement to show people that no matter what his racial background, he is an American.
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One quote from this story really stands out to me. The one guy at the bar, when describing the Asians coming into his community said, “They don’t want to look American, they don’t want to dress American, and they don’t want to speak English.” So that brought up the question in my mind, what exactly does looking and dressing American mean? We pride ourselves on being the “land of the free” and “land of opportunity” so aren’t we proud of the fact that people want to come to our country? Why should people who come to our country to better themselves have to change who they are in the process? As long as they aren’t hurting anyone or pressing their beliefs on anyone else, where is the problem? I agree with Sam 100%, this is pure racism. It’s the same doctrine that Hitler himself preached. These people are saying everyone should look the same, act the same, shop at the same places and talk the same way. He mentioned how their stores are “not the kind of stores an American would go into.” I am guessing that there are a lot of Asian Americans who go into those stores. Last time I checked, they are just as much American as the idiot who made that comment. If he goes to Japan, do they say the same thing about a McDonalds? Does he care that much about the Chinese restaurant that he eats at every week? Sometimes it is unbelievable how ignorant people are sometimes. Simply because something is unknown to someone, they take it as a threat. The man who bought the Frozen Cup to make a hotel hit it right on the head when he said it’s almost an issue of jealousy. He made an offer to sell the property at a $100,000 loss and did anyone buy it? That doesn’t sound like someone who is trying to take over a neighborhood with his culture. It sounds like someone who is trying to be a part of the community. When he realized the spot may be very important to the people he lived around, he offered to sell the property to make the community happy. It could have very easily been bought up but it wasn’t. It’s also funny how the people complain about the traffic around the parts of town where the Asians are most populated. Why aren’t the complaining about their local shops closing down to move in a Staples or a Wall-Mart? Why are they not complaining about the new traffic around those areas? Someday, maybe we can think of being American as those who live in America and work for the progress of our country. It shouldn’t be about what anyone looks like or where their ancestors are from. Unfortunately, that may be a long, long time from now.
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After reading this article, you can see how there are many people in the United States that are still extremely resistant to change and diversity. Sam says that he does not like using the term racism, however, I agree that there is no other word for it in the attitudes expressed by the people in Bellerose. The immigrants that are entering this community in Queens are bringing a different demographic to the neighborhood, but that does not mean they are making it worse. They are striving for more in their lives, they are trying to stimulate the economy and use the opportunities that are afforded to anyone in America that want to take advantage of them. Therefore, I don’t think its fair for these people of Bellerose to make the statements they do about the immigrants, and then be bold enough on top of that to say “I’m not a racist; What’s race have to do with it?”
People in the United States are still just extremely scared of things(especially people) that are different. This neighborhood in Queens was one that was pre-dominantly white prior to the immigrants moving in. It was almost a little bubble. The old America, where people go to Little League games and down to the ice cream shop afterwards were a beautiful time and days like that were a way of life for many American communities. However, that America is changing. America is becoming more diverse by the day – as it should be. One thing to think about though is that America was diverse before too, just in a different way. Just because entire communities were white, does not mean they weren’t diverse. There could be Irish, Italians, Germans, and Polish. There could be Catholics, Baptists, or Jews. People sometimes forget to realize that discrimination exists between groups like this as well, and there has always been discrimination, no matter what neighborhood you are in.
However, it seems like white people will put aside their differences between each other when it comes to people of a different skin color. They will forget that they don’t like the Irish person next to them because now someone of Indian descent has moved into the neighborhood. This is not right and this is something that the entire population of the United States is going to need to work on. People say that racism is being cut out of this country. However, the nation only is getting more diverse, which means there is now more opportunity for racism to rear its ugly head. It is up to everyone to try to stop it here and now before it starts growing again. It is the responsibility of all of us to stand up for what is right.
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It gets on my nerves when people claim not to be racist after uttering blatantly racist sentiments. Mr. Augugliaro basically said “we don’t want any of those foreigners here. Not that I have anything against them…” He continued to ask what race had to do with the situation anyway, it has everything to do with it. If the area was being overrun with new white neighbors, nobody would be concerned in the least, but you dye them brown, add a turban and a Sikh temple and all of the sudden an entire community is up in arms, to the point where they resent even having their grocery stores sell burlap bags of basmati rice. In all of my journals I keep going back to a question that was posed earlier in the semester: has Martin Luther King’s dream been realized? Well I have another related question to ask: to whom did that dream apply? I don’t think he meant just black and white, I like to believe that red, yellow, brown, green what have you, that we should all be able to get along. At the same time I’m not naïve enough to think that we are anywhere near close enough to be able to claim universal tolerance. But white people who ask what race has to do with things are fooling themselves, race has a lot to do with everything.
I thought it was interesting the different takes by different people from Queens. The South Asians who lived in the area were under the impression that their neighbors were very tolerant and welcoming, and some of their neighbors, like John Dolan, were. There were others at the bar however, like Bruce Holloway who said “Everybody wants to bring their country here… They don’t want to look like Americans, they don’t want to dress like Americans, and they don’t want to speak English.” His friend Franco said that real Americans didn’t go to Bazaars. Who are they to decide what is and is not American? Yes on the exterior we have our baseball and hamburgers, our All-American football stars and letter jackets, but we also supposedly pride ourselves on being “tolerant” we are supposed to be the ones to take in the tired and the hungry and give them new opportunities. I think we need to wake up and paint a new portrait. We’re no longer the same warm, fuzzy country that we used to be. We’re selective in who we let in, and when we do let people past the borders we feel like we’re under siege from foreign legions of Asian Indian, turban wearing, sword carrying Muslims. I loved the end of the article when Mr. Singh, the Indian Obama, said “Pizza-eating people have representation. Burger-eating people have representation. Bagel-eating people have representation. But roti has no representation.” I think it’s time that we look at people and see Americans as more than just black and white and see that there are more colors on the spectrum.
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I think the idea of being racist is a very interesting thought. I think this because there is so much that goes into everyone, it’s not right to judge people based upon the color of their skin or the way they talk or even the way they dress themselves. In my small meeting class this week we talked about the idea of culture. After everyone in the class shared their ideas and thoughts, our last thought was that we all have the same culture. We have all brought ideas from our family and surroundings into account when we think about what our culture is. Although we have all came from different places in this world we are all American. One student in my class brought up the thought that we may all think differently and come from all over America, we are all American. If we were to travel over seas, we would all be American and all those over seas would consider us American. This is where the article about racism really hits hard. We are all different people however we are still one. We are all American. For some to get angry over those of a different race moving into their area of the town is out of this world to me. we all came to this country in search of a better life to live. We all cam and took over land that was not ours from the Native Americans. It is not right to claim and area and say no one else can come there for no reason. This even reminds me of the video shown in class. The black man was not able to move into the apartment and was told there was no room however, when asked by a white man, he was able to move in right away. It is crazy to think like that because the color of some ones skin says nothing about them as a person.
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I’m pretty open-minded about people’s opinions, but this New York Times article flat out pisses me off. We Americans refer to ourselves, as a great “melting pot” yet there are thousands, if not millions, of people who are unable for whatever reason to accept other cultures. They are unwilling to melt in the inevitable pot of America full of various ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, etc.
I get it. The residents of Bellerose are pissed off that their favorite ice cream shop is closing and a hotel is coming in to replace it. I’d be angry too. I love ice cream. That’s a legitimate reason to be upset. But when it comes down to who owns the hotel, then their boots really start to shake. That’s what makes me so upset.
So let’s break this so-called sticky situation down. First, it’s 2009 and unfortunately, the little mom and pop shops are going to be forced to move out so that modernization and globalization can move in, especially in places like Queens, one of New York City’s five boroughs. Even though it’s an upsetting situation for some who have grown up with establishments like the Frozen Cup, if a white hotel owner were to move in, the problem wouldn’t really be a problem and the New York Times wouldn’t be able to write a story like this one. Second, it’s a known fact that a lot of Asian Indians own hotel franchises and they are damn good at it.
I like linking these journals with people I know and encounter in my everyday life, so here I go… One of my best friends is Asian Indian and her dad owns several small hotels. He has a great business and is able to put three kids through college. Yes, his family is Indian and Hindu and a lot of his relatives are still in India, but if you had dinner at his house in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania you would realize he lives an everyday American life. He is an American and his children were brought up American just like everyone else’s. The only thing that’s different is the color of his skin.
After reading in the NY Times article that the “earlier settlers” of Bellerose wonder whether magazines tucked into seatbacks on flights between Mumbai and Kennedy Airport advertize homes in Bellerose and when people like Mr. Augugliaro, a resident of Bellerose, says “They’re turning the neighborhood into a third-world country,” it makes me sick. I’m sure Mr. Augugliaro has never been to a third-world country to really compare his warm home and refrigerator full of food to.
I’m double majoring in journalism and international studies and in my international studies class our professor had us read this article (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article5622156.ece). Parts of Italy are beginning to ban ethnic food restaurants in their cities. They say the country wants its people to “eat more Italian.” This is appalling and frightening. I feel like the world is backtracking to a globe where people only understand and have an awareness of his or her culture.
I don’t think New York City would ever “ban” ethnic restaurants, but when people have mindsets like Mr. Augugliaro and other residents of Bellerose, it scares me that it could. I want my children to experience other people’s food and lifestyles. I want my kids to understand that it’s okay for a person of a different race to own a hotel or gas station. That’s why we’re called “the land of the free.” We’re all immigrants to this country and we all have the same privileges as Americans. Maybe Mr. Augugliaro should leave the hotel owner alone and go back to where his family came from. America would probably be a better and more accepting place.
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I find it funny when people say that racism does not exist today when there are issues that arise that clearly result from racism. Whether its racism that involves cops shooting a man who was completely restrained or a group of people not wanting members of another race start a business in the article “The Frozen Cup”. I’m from New York, so I know how diverse the city is. Queens is the largest borough in the city. There is a large population of Asian- Indians that reside in Queens and there are a lot of businesses that are owned by members of that community. The conflict between the people who do not want the hotel built there are totally racist. The situation gets worse when they try to justify why they don’t want the Patels to build a hotel in Bellerose. It was upsetting when I read what Mr. Auguliaro said “they’re turning the neighborhood into a third world country”. Now how is starting a business harmful to the community where it becomes a “third world country”.
I honestly believe that the citizens that object to Patel’s hotel being built are using the Frozen Cup as a scapegoat for their true mentality. It’s not like the neighborhood is not diverse and they have not seen anyone from another background. Or maybe they don’t have a problem with them living there, but the fact that someone of another background is opening a business is too extreme for them. Maybe the fact that someone of another background is trying to enhance themselves is threatening to them.
It is the mentality like that from people of the older generation that keeps racism alive today. Their mentality is passed from generation to generation making sure that racism exist for the future. I found it ignorant when the guy assumed that the Indian man dressed in his culture attire was carrying around a sword. I found it hilarious when Ms. Auguliaro made the statement “I’m not a racist”. If you have to use that statement to justify a comment, then most likely you have a racist mentality.
Last year some friends of mine had encountered racism in their dorm room. Two girls I knew that lived downstairs from me in the dorms were in conflict with their sweet mates. They had been disputing over an issue with the bathroom. I knew the other two sweet mates and got along with them as well. But the girls had gotten into an argument and things got heated. The other sweet mate had stormed into her room. When she got into her room she had yelled a statement that had the words “black bitches” in the comment referring to her sweet mates. Comments like those make people think that they have a racist mentality.
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This week’s entry brings up a great point when it comes to race relations in America. Somewhere in the grand scheme of things the Italians, Irish, Germans and countless other groups stopped being separated on the basis of ethnicity and became white. As a white male I am of the majority and as such have never been the subject of racism. My Irish blood to my knowledge has never once been the source of prejudice. As alluded to in the blog there were times when this would not have been the case. This is an important distinction because for the white population for the past few generations this has created a disconnect between ourselves and those who suffer discrimination. In my own opinion we simply cannot understand racism to its fullest degree unless impacted on a personal basis. So, for the largest segment of America (Whites), racism can at times feel foreign which adds to the gap between the races.
The fact that so many of us forget that at one time our own ancestors were the minority is sad. Actually, sad is not the right word, its ignorance. When we choose to disregard this fact it makes it that much easier to condemn immigrants or an “invading” population. The problems which may plague a neighborhood are easily passed off on those who seem different. We have seen this scenario repeated countless time in human history and it seems a common human weakness which continues to thrive in our own times. When faced with a problem we are all too happy to pass the buck. At some point you would hope that people would bind together and stop seeing the superficial differences which continue to separate us. But this may simply being ideological thinking. At least we might start by reinforcing to the nations youth that we were all at some point immigrants and that many of our ancestors were once minorities. Perhaps in this way we can begin to remove the negative connotations that have somehow come to be connected with these words.
It’s a bit off topic, but I thought that Sam’s take on Affirmative Action was very interesting. As a white middle class male I have been frustrated by Affirmative action since I came to understood what the program stood for. The idea that the government would paint with such a broad brush has always bothered me. In many ways I feel as though Affirmative Action perpetuates racism and pushes a feeling of helplessness on minorities. In my own opinion government action taken on behalf of those who are handicapped by socioeconomic conditions as opposed to strictly on the basis of race would be preferable. In spite of my own strong opinions against AA I have never once taken the time to see how it may have benefited me. Suddenly, sitting in class it became clear that my Mother may never have received her college degree without it. I don’t know the facts but I know that research has shown that those with college degrees are more likely to have children who end up getting degrees of their own. There is no doubt in my mind that without my Mother’s influence college would have been less important.
The point is that in the same way that I failed to recognize AA’s impact on my life, many fail to remember that at some point in history their parents were immigrants to this country. Taking the time to consider these factors makes you reconsider issues and if nothing else makes you more sensitive to their impact.
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After reading the article, it is clear that as a whole the white population of Bellerose has inherently racist views and outlooks. I enjoyed the article because I feel it reflects upon many important points in the racism and segregation we see today in the United States. The Frozen Cup is a great symbol for the divide that exists in Bellerose, and is also a good representation of the divide that still exists in our country. The article brings up a good point; the author writes that even though New York is a “gorgeous mosaic”, ethnic tension is still rampant in the city. This makes sense, especially when taken into consideration the fact that the city is home to one of the biggest minority populations in the country. This great divide has been discussed in class, and as we look at statistics and numbers that Dr. Richards presents in class, we see that African Americans and Latinos often top the charts for illegal drug use and crime. In places such as New York City where diversity is present, it’s understandable to note that this racism exists.
I believe that this article is a great indicator that racism is still prevalent in our country. As Dr. Richards has stated many a time in class, it’s absurd to think that racism disappeared with the end of slavery or with the extermination of segregation. It makes me think of the videos we watched in class this last week, particularly the video about renting apartments and how race affects the chance of finding a lease. A white man enters an apartment that is up for rent and is presented with a generous amount of information by a man who seemingly shows generosity and kindness. He even hands the white man the keys to the place to check it out for himself. This moment of human well being is destroyed when the next man, this time a black man, enters the apartment in hopes of finding a lease for an apartment. He is treated radically different, this time without the good mannerisms we saw portrayed whenever the white man entered before him. He is lied to, and is told that the apartment is no longer for sale and that it was taken by a woman earlier that morning. The realization that the white male was in just before him and was told something completely different is not only sickening but appalling.
What has this article shown us? I believe that it has shown us racism is still rampant in our country. Much like the videos shown in class, we see racism in the article when Patel keeps the renting of rooms in the hotel to his own “people”. It’s still racism; it’s just shown in another light. This article has exposed that to us.
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I feel like this article can be a real eye opener for some people and for others it might just be something that doesn’t really surprise them. I wasn’t really surprised by the reactions or the things that were said in the article by the people who think that Indians and Asians are “taking over”. I feel as though the people, who are really worked up about this, have no right to get worked up considering the fact that their grandparents or even their parents were immigrants to this country. Seems like no one takes a second to think about it and look back at the old days, the days when Irish, Italian, and German immigrants came to New York and “Took Over”. Like it not, immigration to this country is not going to stop and I believe that racism will always be around.
Although this may be new to other people, and even to me I guess it’s new in way, growing up, as an immigrant from Mexico racism has always been part of the life in the U.S. I am aware that different races face different kind of discrimination, but no matter where you come from it is almost a guaranty that there will be some kind of hate or discrimination towards you. Personally I feel that it’s a great thing that more and more minorities are opening up business or becoming successful in the U.S. I am not one to believe that only minorities should get more opportunities and become successful, I believe that if they deserve it and work hard for it then I see no problem with that. If it is a white person or a black person it really makes no difference, if people who work hard and succeed their color or race should not be important. People are way to concerned about race in this country if you ask me, but I guess it just wouldn’t be the same U.S if we all got along.
I found it really interesting that the one guy who bought the old ice cream shop, offered to sell the place back to whoever would run the Frozen Cup for the next ten years, and there were no buyers. I think if people really cared that much about keeping it in white hands, or just keeping the Frozen Cup running, then someone would have made the purchase. I think this sent out a strong message to people by saying that they were not there to “Take Over” as people have been saying. I have no problem in saying, that those people who don’t want the Indian’s or Asian’s there, are being completely racist and I am not surprised in any way by this.
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I see a lot of Indian Americans owning motels or hotels. I see it as their ways of making money or doing their business. Just like a Japanese person concentrating on making the products that is about technology. Because they are good at it and they are known for it. It’s not like they take that jobs to invade. When I go back to South Korea, there are some Americans owing business and doing great. I don’t see that as the invading or anything. When any foreigners come to United State, they usually move to the places where they know people which mean they are going to the place where there is a available cultural stuff. So that there are places called China town or Korea town. Because they speak the same languages. It’s their comfort zone of their country. When immigrants come to other country, I will assure that they don’t have a mind of invading the country. Their just trying to make a life out of it. It’s same as foreigners coming to Korea and doing their business too. They could come and someone that they know could hear what they are doing. So, they decide to come to Korea too and move somewhere close to that family and start the similar things. It’s easier to do that for foreigners to see what other people did and possibly start the similar business and could get some idea or advise from the people who were there before they did. When I was reading the article, I was actually read mad. Because Americans took the land away from Native Indians and settle in the land which is technically is Native Indians. Native Indians even taught Americans how to survive in that country. If anyone can be called a invaders, it’s Americans because they moved to a country which makes them a immigrant and then learned how to survive from the locals and killed everyone then took over the country controlling what Native Indians do and make sure they don’t get a chance to get back to their life like how they used to live. Yeah I would say invaders for that reason. Americans have no right to say other immigrants are taking over or invading just because they are the one who is doing that. The only difference there are between Americans and immigrants is that immigrants didn’t killed any of Americans and took over their land and controlled what they are doing. Immigrants get a bad opportunities than Americans in United States, but still they survived with no help so, in my opinion, other people who feel like immigrants are the invaders need to think about what they are actually doing and see if they are in a position to have a right to point finger at anyone.
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The people of Bellerose, Queens are the reason why the United States is still a racist country and why those of white European descent get a bad rap of being the most racist. The things I read in this article were appalling. The idea that the hotel would be used for prostitutes or to house people from their own country makes no sense. All hotels in the country have had at one time of another prostitution in it, even the most prestigious hotels have scandals happening in them, so the claim that because it is owned by an Indian group of investors there will be suspicious shady actions happen is ridiculous.
Also when they said that all the immigrants were making their nice suburban white town like a third world country, I don’t know if these people actually understand what a third world country actually is. There are so many things wrong with that statement. And every time they make a comment they follow it up with “it has nothing to do with race” which actually mean that it is about race and that they are racist people.
Another statement that really left me unsettled as when the one couple saw the Sikh man with the sword and they judged him and laughed his religious outfit. I know these people would never judge a Christian or Jew they saw walking down the street for wearing a cross or Yamaka.
In today’s world it still stuns me that people will continue to live so backwards. I come from a small suburban city but never would statements like these come from the majority of the population, nor would they be tolerated and taken so lightly. There is an Indian family that lives on my street, a very nice couple. A professor at the local college and his wife, and I see them everyday walking down the street. The only difference between them and all the other people walking down the street for exercise is there apparel and the fact that the wife walks a few paces behind her husband at all times. But I understand that is there culture and nowhere in the constitution, or any other laws of the united states does it say that husband and wife have to walk side by side, so no one is concerned with it. These actions don’t make them any less American, any less respectable or any less pleasant. I don’t feel threatened that my community is going to the dogs when I see people of a different culture act differently according to that upbringing. I actually like to see people still practice their cultural ways because then I know they feel comfortable in the community to act as they please without the fear of being discriminated or judged. They don’t conform just because some societies are uncomfortable with the unknown. And I hope the city of Bellerose get their act together and allow the new members of their community to be free to do what they want because that is what being America is about, there isn’t just one way to be American.
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It is always cynically comical when someone adds, “…but I’m not racist” after a very racist comment.
People either know they are racist, or they are but are in complete denial. The people say “but I’m not racist” could be either because they either do not understand what they said or realize they have some image to protect.
In the case of the New York Times article, I see two things going on that can easily create resentment between the two groups of people (those already settled and the South Asian immigrants). I see settled families who are a few generations AFTER their immigrant ancestors and new immigrants who seem very proud of their growing numbers.
I personally don’t see a threat to the community if a reputable hotel is to be established. As for the closing of historical Bellerose “landmarks,” maybe the terrible economy has something to with it because places I thought I’d never see go out of business in my hometown have been closing too…and the demographics aren’t really changing. This leads me to believe that the assumptions in Bellerose are completely wrong. They sound like they need to point a finger at someone for the changes in their town, and so they pointed at the new minorities, which is wrongfully racist.
The South Asians who proclaim they have their own version of Obama, however, make it sound like they are LOOKING to take over rather than assimilate and get along and live with everyone equally. For a community to get along, each demographic should have equal power, not just the majority, because then groups are left unfairly represented. Of course, this idealistic vision never becomes reality, and so we see racism and resentment as a result of the possibility of a change in who holds the power in Bellerose.
When we lose sight of our ancestry we let ourselves becomes ignorant because it is entirely true that assimilating to a new country and dealing with not being welcome by those who were already there are exactly what the South Asians in Bellerose are going through now.
There is a new resentment today though. In earlier immigration, the immigrants had no money and were forced to take to lowest of low jobs. These Asian immigrant appear to have money though judging by their jobs and at the implication of the guy at the bar who said, “Where’d they get it all any anyway?” This causes more of a threat. It is not just that they are encroaching on ways of life that were for years prior, it is that they have the ability to overpower the settled majority, too. Perhaps this can be attributed to the kind of racism in the article. If these people were poor, there would be less of a reason to feel unsettled, right?
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I think that while this article does seem somewhat racist, or at least, the people of Bellerose certainly seem to have racist views of the incoming South Asian immigrants. However, I believe that their anger is definitely not entirely based on racism, and their concerns certainly have some merit. I feel like most people would be upset if their hometown was suddenly changing drastically and having the place where they grew up suddenly become unfamiliar and strange. An entirely new and different culture occupying large portions of the place you live would definitely be a kind of culture shock, most likely especially in the case of the older citizens of the area, the ones who have lived there their entire lives. I am not trying to excuse the white population of Bellerose’s behavior towards the South Asian immigrants, because certainly they are acting in a racist manner towards them, but I think if they took race out of the equation completely, the feelings would be similar if not the same, just based on the changes taking place in their hometown. There is a flip side to this train of thought though. One could say the white residents of Bellerose are just hanging on to the past too much and refusing to accept the reality of the world around them. The fact that the Frozen Cup just wasn’t making money and was sitting on very valuable land is just a fact of business, and them trying to hold on to it because its part of their past, despite the fact that its just bad business keeping it there, is proof that their sentimental attitude is getting in the way of intelligent immigrants who are just trying to make a good living. Its not like Mr. Patel is doing anything wrong or illegal by buying the property and building a hotel on it, and in all likelyhood it will be more profitable and better for the area than the small old ice cream shop was. It’s a complex situation for sure, and I believe adding racial tension to the mix will only push the situation further in the direction that it doesn’t need to be going, that being people not listening to both sides of arguments with a logical and open mind, and possible conflict and violence. I am also not entirely sure how I feel about the last paragraph of the article. It almost seems as though racism is working there as well, in the opposite direction. Wanting to get one of their own in office so they can start completely changing things in their favor? That can definitely only serve to further increase the tension between sides of this issue.
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Basically all people will never be happy. There will always be one group who thinks another has an advantage over them or one that actually does. White Americans complain about Affirmative Action, and leaving out whether or not it is in fact a good thing, many are quick to forget all of the difficult times throughout history that minorities have faced and continue to deal with to this day. Many are sick and tired of hearing about how blacks feel that they are still oppressed but at the same time how do these people think they feel? As much as they might hate hearing about it, how would they feel if they were actually living through it? I am probably too optimistic but I do believe there will be a day when all boundaries between races and ethnicities are broken down to the point where they are almost non-existent. I feel that we have come a long way but at the same time there are cases like the one described here that show we still have a long journey ahead of us. When you think about it, it is pretty absurd how some people find it so easy to disregard the beliefs and ideas of others different from themselves. Just because one group of people was in a certain location “first” does not mean that they are destined to remain there for all of eternity. If this were the case, the country we have formed today would not exist. “Our people” ripped the Native Americans from this land, and meanwhile now when we are faced with those of different backgrounds integrating into our neighborhoods we will not stand for it. Compromise is apparently not an option. There is no negotiating with some people who refuse to see the view points of others. The United States of America is supposed to be a place where all people can express their opinions without the fear of being oppressed. It is truly sad that no matter how fair some try to make the system, there are always those corrupt people that have to ruin it. You can find these people in all areas, and is especially scary when law enforcers fall into this category. It is a fact that minorities are still at a disadvantage even though they are protected by the same rights as white Americans and thus should be given the same respect and opportunity. However, there are instances when minorities rise above and become successful, only to be harassed and insulted by others that are unhappy with them. In an ideal world, people of varying skin colors, religions, and ethnicities should be able to live together in one neighborhood, sharing their different cultures with one another, but when will this day of peace ever come?
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I agree that this is racist and the words and thoughts of the white members of the neighborhood are very un-American. These people are afraid of the changing face of their neighborhood and I think that it has been established that racism is pretty much fear. These group of white people are definitely afraid. They think that they are losing their culture and being forced out. That is not true. And to be frank, It’s a fricken ice cream stand. Really. If people are going to make a big fuss over an ice cream shack they need to find some better things to do. These are adults we are talking about. Now, my town had its own ice cream place and I love it. But if it was being replaced by something that is going to pump money into the local economy I think I’d give it up. I wouldn’t cry about all the memories, you don’t lose them if the place is demolished. They obviously don’t value it to much, because someone would have bought it back. Even though they think that these South Asians, are taking away American heritage they are actually embracing what our country is about. I don’t think that the average American citizen really understands what our country is about. I know it has been warped for so many years by war, politics, and our capitalistic image, but it is really pure and a beautiful idea. Our philosophy is for people to come here and make it their home. They can bring it what they want and leave behind what they want to forget. These Indians are doing just that. They are bringing what they love about their culture and leaving behind some of the poverty is India. They are making new happy lives for themselves and that is what our founding fathers wanted them to do. American culture isn’t fast-food, football, and sex. That is part of it and that is perfectly fine. We set the country up like that and that is what we want to do. We are free to do it. But to say it is the American way is wrong. What these Indians are doing is the American way as well. American culture should not have a definition. That is because we are set up to embrace all cultures. We are the proverbial stew. To stretch this metaphor out a little I will close with the following. People don’t ask you what kind of flavor is the stew or what kind is it. It is just stew. A little bit of everything, making one thing. We have a little bit of every culture to make our own. And American’s of every race need to understand that.
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This article is nothing but hysterical! I look at this and have experienced it in so many ways which just makes me pity those who feel insecure. I am from the Indian Subcontinent and have relatives living in Queens. And from what I have heard, Queens is supposed to be the most diverse area in the world. Hence, why only the brown crowd? They should be scared and “racist” from the rest of the world, because they are taking over as well. Mr. Augugliaro is one of those who should realize that this is the rise of the rest – rest, from my point of view, are the races who have had to go through various unfortunates events. The funny part is that ages ago, his ancestors were the ones who moved in to Queens and “took over” or so-called “invaded” the area. This is pure karma – which means the way you do things and how you do it, would get back to you in some positive or negative way. This is when people like him are receiving their ancestors’ “bad” karma. I do not want to sound biased, but for real, Indians are not invading Queens but it is the most rational and economical decision for any average immigrant to locate, if in New York.
This statement “they are turning this into to a third-world country” makes me react with mixed emotions. I feel insulted, furious and pitiful towards such people who have no exposure towards seeing such diverse and multi-cultural people even though they live in New York. This is very racist and should respect all cultures and races for what they are and have done for the community. I could go on for what they have provided New York or America as a whole, but when it comes to Queens specifically I feel that being the world’s most diverse area should be one of those spots where people should visit, explore and cherish it as it embraces diversity. They will learn more about themselves and others because they would broaden their horizons. Racism is not going to be tolerated and should not be in the 21st century, especially in what we know as the “free land” country. America is one big melting pot – just as many people, white people, have entered decades ago, history repeats again but with more diverse cultures entering the country which should allow people to receive the opportunity to get out of their narrow minds.
In conclusion, people are stereotypical, judgmental and brainwashed – this is obviously not the right mindset to have due to the fact the world would expand into more of a diverse nation and thus, does not have time for such negativity.
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In case you are wondering, the things that are mentioned in this article are racist. One thing that I truly hate is when white people say racist comment, or do racist acts and then try to deny the fact that they are racist. For example, in class there Sam showed us a video of two gentlemen acquiring about apartments, one man is black the other is white. Both men went to the same apartments and asked about the availability, but in every situation the black man was treated very poorly (poorly is not even the word for it), while the white man was treated very nicely. In some cases the white man was given a nice tour and spoken to really well or even given the keys so he can conduct his own tours. In the other hand the black man was spoken to very aggressively, some land lords even told him that they ran a very clean establishment which he was implying that the black man was some type of dirt ball. Then in another instant the owner told him that the place was already rented out when the white man just came and gave himself a tore all on his own. Then when they came back with the cameras the first thing he said was “we are not racist,” which I thought was a complete bull crap. This really piss me off, I hate when these white people do these obvious racist things and then claim “oh we are not racist,” One land lord even went to the extent saying that “one of them was just here” pure crap. I personally believe that this racism thing will never end, because the same people who are in the race relation class are the same people who are going to end up being racist or help their own kind.
The article made me even furious, white people are haters. They don’t want the see the South Asians move forward just because they say they come from a different country and they are trying to take over their town. They are upset because Some South Asians bough an ice cream place that they consider a landmark because it was on “Sex and the City” once and they believe if the South Asians build the hotel it will attract more prostitutes in the town. Plus they think they it would attract more South Asians to come in to the town and the hotel managers will only sell to their kind. Mr. Patel summed the whole thing up right, first he offered the place at a lower price than what they bought it for and say if anyone could buy it for that low price it’s theirs. He said something that I agreed with, he said “They feel we are coming from out of country,” he added, “and we move forward, and they don’t.” I purely hate racism, I see it every day and it should stop (but it never will.)
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This is racism in case anyone is wondering.
During my first two years of high school I lived in Jackson Heights Queens. People from Bellerose Queens are experiencing the same things that people in Jackson Heights experienced with the new comers at some I never thought of this as a problem, perhaps I was very accustomed to the New York mosaic of cultures. I remember walking around Jackson Heights and 94th blvd, a lot of clothing stores were for Indian women. The bright colors of the garments often embroidered with golden stones, which I thought were gold, Asian restaurants and food markets belonged to South Asian people.
I disagree with the some of residents from Bellerose Queens. There was nothing wrong with my neighborhood of Jackson Heights. It is true that the better standing businesses were mostly own by South Asians, but it is not true that their store or business “It’s not the kind of store an American goes into.” And I know this from fact many of male clothing stores clothing were won by South Asians. My brother is not South Asian and he often went South Asian to get business attire for school events. This people are haters and they are just looking for an excuse to prevent different people from other culture to succeed. Like I said earlier South Asian and Asians in general have better businesses in the area. You will never see an Indian Asian selling “churros” (Latin American food, like doughnut stick) in Jackson Heights. One the reasons South Asian have more money and better businesses is that they don’t waste time being haters.
People from Bellerose aren’t seeing the big picture at all. Isn’t obvious that a hotel would bring revenues to their community and I mean a lot more than a stupid deteriorating ice-cream stand, is not like there selling Penn State ice-cream. Seriously, these xenophobes are making fools of themselves. I would think differently if what was going to be demolished was a national park were a lot of in danger species lived. Who is going to remember this place a few years from now anyway? The funny thing is how they refer to this ice-cream stand as a “temple of salvation” or glorious place of extraordinary memories as if the can get sympathy from leaders in the community who are going to prevent bigger and better business from growing.
Not many of us will ever understand how stop people from thinking and acting this way. Racism can take any group of people to nowhere land. If everyone were this divided and didn’t think beyond races and skin colors, where would we be right now? I still trying to figure out when will people stop and realize that if cultures and different people aren’t united, the chaos and destruction will stop. Why is it that even in the most diverse cities/state on the planet we see this happening? One would think that New York is the least divided place on earth, however because it is the most diverse it is most divided.
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I cannot believe that things like this still occur in our world today. Actually, on second thought, I can believe it, but it makes me extremely sad. What is almost ironic is the fact that this takes place in New York – Queens – one of the most diversified places within the United States. This country was founded on diversity. When people refer to our country as a “melting pot,” they are describing us quite accurately. And even today, we see people turning on this very fundamental idea. White people are not anymore “American” than their Indian counterparts. And this is because the term “American” is so ambiguous. How one can discriminate based on a lack of being “American” is beyond me.
Of course, I would be upset if a childhood icon were being torn down in my neighborhood. Change is hard (in certain ways) for everyone, and it can oftentimes be painful. But to blame this change on one family and then attribute this to their entire race is wrong. It only shows that people can be extremely self centered, especially when it comes to resistance at experiencing change. What makes this worse is that the neighborhood alone is already diverse (in a way). There are different people groups incorporated into this neighborhood – French, Irish, Germans, etc. The fact that one’s skin color can still determine whether they are seen negatively in a community is horrifying. In a day and age such as this, one would think that people are not still the bigoted and ignorant, but they are.
I was struck by the fact that the proprietors of the Days Inn made kind and positive remarks about the neighborhood – they like it. If I were them, I probably would not have many positive things to say about my neighbors, due to the remarks that they had given to me and my family. They aren’t changing everything about the community, and in fact their business will probably benefit the community in which they live. They say that their main concern is the well-being of the community, but this cannot be true. If they were really concerned about the well-being of the ENTIRE community, they would be examining themselves as well. The community is not only the newcomers, but those who have been there and have the “right” to keep things the way that they wish. However, no one likes to admit that they are the ones that need to change something about them.
Unfortunately, the more diverse that a neighborhood or community becomes the more susceptible it is to racial tension. I wonder that there is much we can do to change this at all. Extreme differences in culture and race often provoke these things in people. That does not excuse the people of Bellrose’s behavior at all, in my opinion, but it certainly gives a bit of a reason for these abhorrent occurrences.
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I thought this article was really interesting because of the direct quotations. Almost all of the quotes in this story were laughable. A lot of what Sam has said about King of the Mountain popped into my head when I was reading this. Most people, in their own neighborhoods, not necessarily specific to Queens, like the way things are. They approve of their neighbors and when there is a noticeable difference in their bubble, they get excited. It seems to me that the people in Queens are doing just this. Everyone is pointing fingers at one another whether it’s bringing in the prostitutes or bringing in the turban wearers. When I read the comment about the area becoming a “third world country,” I was reminded of a certain happening from my high school. I live in one of the richest counties in the country—Fairfax, Virginia. Not only that, but the public high school that I went to was ranked one of the best in the country, and it seemed that every student there was a 4.0, avid athletic, community-serving go-getter. I came from a different sort of elementary school, with tons of racial diversity and my best friends consisting of three Honduran boys who lived up the street. When I walked through the halls of my high school and saw one of the eight black kids, I could hear people say things like “Oh my gosh, it is soooo ghetto here.” Realllly? Ghetto? In Fairfax, Virginia, one of the richest places in the country? No, just as my high school was not ghetto, Queens is probably not a third world country. People do not always understand the magnitude of their words. Even if this person really believed what he was saying, clearly he has no idea what a third world country is like. Like I’ve said in almost every single one of my blogs, PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT. And they believe ignorance is bliss. Why expand your mind to other worlds and cultures if you are content with your safe little world? It is easy to fear the unknown, so people lock up and close down. They neglect to care about knowing. The only acceptable aspect of this story is that people were sad about The Frozen Cup joint closing down. It’s a historical landmark, and it probably had damn good ice cream.
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After reading the last sentence in this article, I didn’t know what to say. It seemed a little unusual to me to think about one day having a president who has a “graying beard, a pointy mustache, and a red turban.” I can understand how there is definitely racism coming from the residents of Queens, although one thing about the last paragraph makes me a little frustrated. It shows that Mr. Singh says, “ ‘You know…one of my people said to me…Here comes our Obama.’ ” What really sticks out to me in this sentence is how he says one of MY people. What exactly is that supposed to mean? To me, I don’t like how he only refers to people of his decent or religion as HIS people. It just doesn’t settle right with me. It seems negative, distant, and intimidating for some reason. Besides this fact, the article definitely portrays a sense of racism. My definition of racism is a negative ideology based on stereotypes in a social hierarchy based on race. One major stereotype portrayed in this article about South Asian’s is clearly expressed by Mr. Augugliaro and his wife. It states, “The couple later recalled a morning years ago when they saw an old man in an orange turban walking on the sidewalk with a curved sword slung from his waist like the one they remembered from the Ali Baba cartoons… The couple laughed as they recalled the scene.” The fact that they were laughing about this instance thinking that it was funny to look at follows my exact definition of racism. Their negative ideology towards the Sikh man and his culture is blatant racism. On the other hand, I find it interesting that after loads of protests and complaints after hearing the Frozen Cup was going to be shut down, no one in the town even wanted to buy it out. Mr. Patel offered it for $100,000 less than he bought it for, and he would therefore be losing that money if it were bought out; however, still no one wanted it. I could understand that not many people possess that kind of money, but I’m not sure how they were expecting to keep the Frozen Cup in business. In reality, I think this protest wasn’t really about the ice cream stand, but more about the race of the people who bought it out. Using the argument that the residents are scared prostitutes may live in the hotel seems absurd. What does that have to do with anything? There is definitely and underlying point in all of it. Overall, many of the arguments made against the closing down of the Frozen Cup were blatantly racist, and the residents as well as others in America need to be more open to other cultures. In fact at one point in time, we as Americans were that other culture.
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I think its unfair for the American people to say that the Asian Indians are or have taken over Queens the New York neighborhood. The term what goes around comes around is very well applicable here since before America was discovered by Columbus the Indian’s resided on this land. After Columbus and his companions came ashore they decided to kick them out anyway possible. And now we live in the America that was taken by force from other cultural people.
In a way the American’s still do feel some guilt in this matter as the Indian’s don’t have to pay taxes given they can prove their heritage or even the Indian casinos allows over 18 or some 19 year old people to gamble. So given all this why would the U.S. government do all these things just for a certain group? Won’t it be unfair to the rest of the people of the states that only the Indian’s who lived here before them get these “special” laws? But no ones asks why? It’s because deep down they do feel that the have done something wrong.
Though the Asian Indian’s now mostly live in the Queen’s I don’t think it is nice to say that they have take over. American gives everyone a dream. The American dream that anything is possible. Everyone from Asia at least comes to America to attain this dream, whether its by driving a cab or just having a corporate job. I do understand where these feelings in the American community might be coming from but it is not right. Everyone has free will and can live anywhere they want. It is not right to act in such an immature manner. When someone comes to a foreign country they want someone from their country to guide them or to make them keep feeling good since they have come half way around the world.
Atlanta, GA is believed to have a lot of black people. Initially when America was formed there were white people while having black’s as slaves. Now the problem is that the black’s were freed and they all scattered everywhere. Some probably came to Georgia even. Now its unfair to say to them that, hey look we don’t like you coming in out community cause you are taking over the neighborhood, so get out! It’s not fair cause what if America was discovered by black people and whites were slaves. Lets turn the tables here. No one thinks this way. It is only when we put ourselves in another persons shoes that we come to know that how it feels to be separated. This is ethnocentrism that our way of living is the best and we want it to remain this way. For once people should think about others then just themselves. Unfortunate it is not a well-practiced exercise.
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Yes this is an issue of racism. First of all the towns people of Bellerose are completely wrong if they think just because their home is located some where or because their family moved in a certain neighborhood (however many years ago) that they can make all the decisions of that particular neighborhood. Who gave them the false authority to feel the need to know about every new establishment built or home sold? I understand they are looking for that old school town feeling but in today’s age in a lot of towns classic diners and other hang outs are being torn down. Now if they are being torn down by Asian Indians, like in Bellerose I do not know. Does it matter?
Should it matter? No, it shouldn’t and that is exactly why this uproar is a matter of racism. I am sure that if some other white people were building on the land or if fellow whites were moving into those homes it would not be as big of an issue. It is funny how certain people in certain neighborhoods feel that “they” other races are moving in and taking over. This is not the first time I have heard this racist expression. In Philadelphia you hear things like this often. Certain parts of the city are separated by race. In southwest you have the Africans, in North you have a mixture of Spanish people and blacks, in south you have blacks and Italians, and in northeast you have more whites then blacks. At one point in time I am quite sure that different people lived in these neighborhoods and “others” started to move in. Where I live in the suburbs of the city more and more blacks are moving out the city and into my neighborhood. Me being black, I do not have a problem with it but I know my white neighbors are not happy. Over the years there have also been a number of Asian Indian Americans that have moved into my neighborhood. At my graduation the last name Patel was the longest list of names called. My sister married and had a baby with an Indian American man and my niece’s last name is Patel. The fact of the matter is that other races are going to move wherever they wish and no one can control or regulate who moves where. It is discrimination and wrong. If you want to move into somewhere where everyone looks like you move into a gated community and stop complaining.
I agree with Mr. Patel when he says they are jealous. I know that is not the right way to think about it but it is very true. The people of Bellerose are probably thinking that the Asian Indians are not supposed to be the ones making all the money and expanding their finances. It has nothing to do with what they believe the outcome of the new hotel will be but instead the people who are making it come about. That is racism.
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Immediately, when it comes to this issue about new people moving into a neighborhood in New York city and such, I strictly remember a conversation I had with my father while in the city. We were talking about his older times when he was growing up and such and it was about how some neighborhoods became good and others bad. We base this upon the measure of income and stability of the community as a whole. He told me about how in some apartment complexes, to purposely drive down the area’s value, they’d introduce a renter who would be a bad influence on the community. This bad influence usually involves drugs and more often than not a black male. This makes me feel horrible, and really seems to tie into the reading of “Disposable People”, because it really displays people just based on their income rather than on their character or what they really have to offer to the world, and to me, it’s a shame. That, to me, is pure racism but it’s also a birth of new stereotypes. I think that because of instances like these that people, black males in specific, are given such a hard time when they want to rent an apartment or get a loan on a house. He’d tell me about how it was difficult for himself growing up at times because he lived in the early 70′s on his own, when this sort of reverse gentrification would begin. He believed that it wasn’t because of the people’s color that caused a problem. No. He believed that it was because of the people trying to buy the land and introducing these horrible stereotypes and problems into the area that caused the problems we see today. As a matter of fact, around the area that is Yankee Stadium as a whole, on game days, it’s a very lively area. It’s filled with scents and people trying to scalp tickets, and it’s a really great environment. And yet, when the game is over, around midnight, supposedly it’s among one of the most gang ridden areas in the city and one of the most polluted in forms of crime. Honestly, when it comes to stereotypes being thrown about in areas like this in communities where they can really morph from on into the other, the light versus the dark of the cities. It’s not because of a group as a whole causing problems, no, it’s because people are so obsessed with money and the value of property as opposed to the character a person can really contribute to where they live. It’s really a shame.
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I found this article to be very appalling and ridiculous. It is very clear that these people do not really have a problem with the ice cream parlor or the new hotel. Rather it is the change that is rattling them as expressed in the quote “You’re changing our whole way of life, our whole neighborhood”. Yet, what exactly is their way of life that is being so disrupted. How have these people really done anything other than be from a different country. If the person trying to buy the Queens ice cream place had not been from South Asia there probably would not have been such uproar. This is really shown when Mr. Patel offers to sell it and no one takes him up on his offer. Places shut down and towns change it is just part of the natural process. Even more importantly, Mr. Patel has been in New York since 1981 and is much a resident of that New York as any white person. In fact, it does not really matter if he had just moved there he is still entitled to buy any properly he wants. It is also very clear that he has worked hard in his life to work his way up.
I agree with the statement that these people appear to be racist. I mean one man even had the nerve to say “They’re renting their rooms to people from their country” and another man, Mr. Augugliaro said “They’re turning the neighborhood into a third-world country”. Not only is there no indication of this but it is just plain racist. He is clearly categorizing and discriminating against the South Asian residents for no good reason. It is almost confusing and contradictory that he turns around and says he is not racist and race has nothing to do with it. If race has nothing to do with it then why is he classifying the neighborhood people as a third-world country? I think race has everything to do with it. The people need to stop and realize that they are no better or different. The United States is made up of all different races and cultures of people who have immigrated here at one time. If history is traced back pretty much all U.S. citizens have ancestors who immigrated here such as from England, Ireland, or Germany. In reality, that is what makes this country what it is there is no one culture or race that is its real foundation. People come here for new opportunities and become part of the country. There are all different cultures and types of people.
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The impression that I get when reading this article is that people who have lived in Queens are hesitant and are possibly afraid of change. From the article some of the people from the interview insist it is not because they are “racist.” However, this is hard to believe considering that some of the residents believe that the new hotel being built will be used by prostitutes and corrupt their society. It seems these residents are hiding behind their fear of a different race and culture coming into the neighborhood. They probably do not know much about the culture and are afraid. They are using the Queen’s Ice cream Stand as a front. They are not really upset about the ice cream. They are upset about a different race moving in.
By reading some the statements the one couple, Mr. and Ms. Augugliaro say it seems clear they do not one these people moving in because of their race. Mr. Augugliaro even states, “I’m not a racist.” I feel if you have to say that you are not a racist it would convince me otherwise that you were. If you’re not a racist you should not have to say you’re not. Also, I don’t understand how their example of running into a Sikh on the street and recalling that he reminded them of the Ali Baba cartoon is a good example of “race not having anything to do with it.”
Furthermore when Mr. Augugliaro stated, “They’re turning the neighborhood into a third-world country” was ridiculous. He goes on to say, basically that the South Asians are crowding “their” neighborhood with “their” new culture. This includes some of their grocery stores or street vendors. However, is that not what America is? A melting pot of different cultures. They should just try to embrace the differences and learn more about the other culture before they put up walls. After all, in the article it mentioned that the neighborhood was made of people who have came from places such as Germany, Ireland, and Italy. They’re people moved to US with different cultures and different ways. It does not seem like they have a right to be upset with new people moving in with different ideas. Also, Mr. Patel has worked his way up in the world. The people in the neighborhood should be respectful to him and not laugh at what he is wearing. They should personally know and understand how hard it is to work your way up in this country. Also, they should not judge him by what he wears. It seems that he is a knowledgeable businessman.
It seems the younger man, John is happy with the neighborhood and the change does not scare or bother him. Perhaps this is because he is a younger generation and more accepting of different races.
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What I do not understand is how people can be so insensitive and so vile as to forget their own history and completely disregard the rights of others. It’s unfounded and its blatant racism on the fact that there is nothing to base it off of. Plus, there is no reason for them to put unfounded blame on people who have done nothing bad, but come here and who wish to contribute to the community as another part of America’s melting pot. It seems so ironic that these same people took land from others, and then were immigrants who arrived in the same fashion as these people. How could you justify yourself when you have no evidence of them being worse people than you? Plus, they came here to work hard. What is wrong with strong work ethic, and a will to better yourself? Isn’t that the American dream?
I love how the Indian Americans just took it instride and ignored those people. It shows who the better people. Why do these people show blatant prejudice towards them? Maybe, it’s the fact that they have to fear change, and they fear people who they do not truly know. What other possible things could there be rather than an unknown thing such as this? If Americans are to truly be American than we must understand that we have to accept and incorpate these foreigners into our society, or face the fact that we are just hypocrites ourselves.
The Irish and the germans faced the same persecutions and yet they came out to be the same people who persecute others back. We simply do not learn from our history and we simply do not understand the purpose of what the flag and statue of liberty stand for. If we are truly hypocrites how are we any better than these other people aand what can we truly aspire to be.
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There are many pros and cons to this type of situation. One I could tell the people of this neighborhood to just move out. If they don’t like the type of people that’s moving in then go. Nobody is making them stay. But then again what is wrong with diversity. If the Asians like this part of town then what is the problem with it. They are entitled to the same rights as the people who were already living there so what’s the problem. In situations like these I feel like we’re taking steps back to history. Like for example when white people didn’t like it when blacks were moving in they made a big fuss, it’s like its happening all over again. It’s a matter of accepting people for who they are no matter their culture.
It’s funny how the community it quick to complain about all the businesses that are going out of business but I bet they never stopped to think why. How much support were these stores getting from the community? If it was so important why is it that they could not stay open? This is different from the Asians that are moving in. Not to be excluding the whites; but they are opening shops were they are able to actually sell items and make a profit. No it might not be something everybody can use but their people do and where else do you want them to go and find their food or other items. Why open up stores further away when you have the ability to do it right in your neighborhood.
I understand the people want to protest but why an ice-cream shop? Is it going to better them somehow. What is so important about this shop that they feel the need to want to save it so much? It was a business. Businesses come and they go. It was this shops time to go. Who is to say how long this day’s inn will last? Who is to say it won’t improve the neighborhood and possibly bring more businesses? And since the people of the neighborhood have such problems with the stores opening up by the Asians with people coming to the hotel they will have all types customers so they can open up their own stores if they like.
Ok so the controversy is over the fact that its bringing bad publicity, maybe, to they neighborhood. But did they not boast about how well it was at first. How is a hotel going to bring down its standards? They are so mad about losing the ice cream shop and I don’t see why. If I already closed down there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Did they really expect the town to leave an abandoned building? Did they expect nobody to want to buy it? And if they’re so mad about it then why did they not try and save it or buy it out themselves and turn it into something they wanted?
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There is nothing any one of those people can say that would show they are not being racist. Racism by definition means the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races. Yet the one man in the article is still quick to say how he is not a racist and it has nothing to do with race. I don’t see how it’s about anything but race in this situation. The community seems to hate everything in their neighborhood that represents the presence of these South Asian people. They feel as if they’ve been “taken over” which makes absolutely no logical sense. It is a neighborhood, they are citizens of the United States, they want to live in that location – that’s all there is to it. The white Americans of the area do not own the neighborhood and it is not their choice on who gets to live near them.
It’s so sad to think that different people really can’t live together in peace still. When will the day come that we don’t care whether our next door neighbor wears a turban or has brown skin, or looks different from us in anyway? When will we stop disliking people who are trying to get ahead in the world?
These men who are setting up the hotels have the ambition to make money to support their families and themselves. Yes, the residents of the neighborhood were willing to fight for the ice cream shop, but when it came down to it, no one wanted to be the one to run it for the next 10 years to keep it on its feet. So did these people really care about the fact that the ice cream shop was still open and a part of their community or was it just the fact that a South Asian person was going to start their own respectable business there? Patel was generous enough to offer the ice cream shop back to the people for 100,000 dollars less than he got it for. That’s right. He would basically be paying for the ice cream place to stay in business for the people of his neighborhood, but no one took the offer.
Why does it matter to us what kind of people move in to our neighborhoods? If the people are good, respectable people, how is this “contaminating” our neighborhoods? They are just fellow human beings who we could probably learn a thing or two from.
I don’t know if there really is any cure for this racism that is instilled in so many. No matter how much evidence is given that these people truly are the same as anyone else, people still don’t get it.
I wish I could say I knew some day it would all be over and we would live as one, but that is an impossible statement to back up when articles like this appear in the media.
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This article disgusts me. People can be so rude and obnoxious. These people are obviously racists and they don’t want to admit it. It is annoying when people claim that another race is “taking over.” I mean seriously, those people in the article are legal immigrants working and striving for the same advantages we Americans strive for everyday. I don’t understand how people can be no stubborn and have no open mind.
I understand the whole thing about closing down a place that’s been there for years. In my old small town, near where my grandma lives now, there is this broken down gas station that no one in the town wants to get rid of. So many people have tried to buy the land but the owner will not sell it. It brings life to the town in some ways. I mean my grandma used to go there when she was a little kid. She has many memories of the old gas station. My grandma and I had a talk about why she doesn’t think it should ever be torn down. She said if it was she would feel bad. She said it would be like it never existed. She likes driving by it everyday on her way to work because it reminds her of her childhood.
But this story has no say in how racist the people are in the article. I mean these people are using race and ethnicity to describe people but then they say their not racist. For example, “They don’t want to look like Americans, they don’t want to dress like Americans, and they don’t want to speak English.” How can people be judged on their appearance? This seriously pisses me off when people act so immature, especially adults. I think that nowadays our younger generation is more accepting to race than the older generation. I mean like Sam talks about everyone’s “racist uncle.” I don’t have a racist uncle but I understand where he is coming from when he talks about this. It just irritates me how judgmental people are because peoples outer appearances.
I have racist friends. I think everyone does, but that doesn’t mean you can speak your opinion. It I lived in Bellerose, Queens right now, I would speak about how all the people are acting completely obnoxious. I would call them out on being racist. Does it really matter what color your skin is, or where you are from? NO! What does matter is that everyone is given a chance to live a good life in America. Some people have it harder because of their race, but that’s stupid. Like Sam was saying in class, some people start ahead of the starting line because of money or the color of their skin. That statement opened my eyes. I really didn’t realize it until he said it. I just wish people could be more open minded. It would make America a much better place.
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It’s so remarkable how history finds a way of repeating itself so exactly!!
Asians, I feel, are today one of the most scrutinized groups and perhaps the most openly hated. Whites don’t feel PHYSICALLY threatened by these people who they see as inept and bearing silly accents. At the same time, they often prove savvy, educated and profoundly capable of success. That I suppose is threatening.
In any event, aside from Latinos, I find Asians most commonly accused of “not assimilating,” and not “speaking the language” (English).
The Chinese, for example, are seen as an imponderable, inexplicably cloistered annoyance, people who simply will not integrate. Chinese who have been here for decades, even centuries, suffer from this prejudice, as many are assumed to be some damn, dirty immigrant before they’ve the chance to open their mouths.
The fact is, more often than not, the Chinese, and other Asians (including South Asians), are integrating, and are many (at least half) are meeting with great success. They’re taking on the high end jobs that many white Americans from recent generations are simply not qualified for, having come from a cultural condition of spoiled complacency and reduced effort. In point of fact, they are your doctors, your professors, your bankers, etc. Is this not integration? Or is it the success that is truly feared/hated?
What’s so ironic is that the whites who are quick to accuse are, by and large, likely to have descended from European immigrant populations who came under the same (if not worse) scrutiny. The Irish and the Italians, for instance, were thoroughly despised and spat upon. The same accusations were thrown at them. “They won’t integrate” or “they won’t fucking speak English!” What do you do when faced with such hostility? Segregated communities naturally formed, as people of a certain ethnic background came together for support. Little Italy is analogue for China Town.
Immigrants coming through Ellis Island were subject to a eugenic inquisition of sorts. They were sorted and shipped according to similar pseudo-scientific that the Nazis would espouse. My great grandfather was sorted according to the theory that Swedes were big and strong and thus suited for tough manual labor. He was just a violin maker, and soon died in the coal mine. When alive he lived around other Swedes in a Dubois neighborhood.
Besides, what would you do when faced with language barriers and the exhaustion of trying to integrate and learn on the spot? Don’t you sometimes find it refreshing to speak the lingo with others of the same major or field of study as yourself? When speaking with outsiders, it’s always an exhausting matter of explaining and re-explaining every little thing. How many of you have hung out with other Americans while abroad, or at least other English speakers?
History repeats itself. Perhaps the descendants of Euro immigrants have “earned the right” to this land, be it stolen. Perhaps after enduring what their wave of discrimination, they’ve earned to right to berate new waves of immigrants. I doubt that. Look to your own past for empathy.
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Consider this passage from Sam’s power point on the sociology of race:
“greater power comes from greater assimilation to the majority group.”
If Asians were not assimilating, if they really were stubborn and cloistered, then why would at least half of them be rich enough to drive the national family income statistic so high as to actually be above that for whites?
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The views of the people of Bellerose are definitely racist. These peoples’ views of the incoming South Asian immigrants is obviously racism, but I do think that some of their anger is not completely based on racism. Some of the concerns that the people of Bellerose have definitely deserve being looked at and examined in a different light than racism. I think that if the place where I grew up and lived started to drastically change, that I may have some concerns of my own. If where I was used to living started to become unfamiliar to me, I would probably start to get a little worried, if I wasn’t happy with the changes. The South Asians that are moving in, in large numbers, could easily cause some culture shock for the people that grew up there all their lives; especially the elderly. Although this shock could explain some of the reactions of the people of Bellerose, it of course does not entirely excuse their actions towards the South Asian immigrants. The people of Bellerose are definitely acting in a very racist manner, but race may not be the only reason behind their reaction. For example, say a bunch of French moved into the neighborhood and started changing all the ways things were around the town. I think that the people of Bellerose would have a very similar reaction to people from a completely different culture, even if they are of the same race as the people of Bellerose. There is, of course, another side to this argument. One could say that the people of Bellerose are caught in the past and refusing to come to terms with the way society can be today. The fact that the people of Bellerose are so desperately to hold onto the Frozen Cup because of its, almost historical, value is complete proof that their attitude towards the situation is in the way of immigrants that are trying to make a life and a good living for themselves. In fact, Mr. Patel buying the land and then building a hotel on the land, would more than likely be a much more profitable and economically beneficial move than keeping some dinky, old ice cream shop there. However, since there is race involved in this situation, it automatically becomes much more complex. Because this is a racial situation, it is going to keep adding to the tension between the races, instead of both sides just coming together and having a logical discussion of the pros and cons of keep the Frozen Cup or getting rid of it. The final paragraph of the article peaked my interest. I feel that the fact that they are trying to get one of their own people in office, so that they can start making drastic changes to the area to help themselves may be a little racist itself.
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After reading this article, I feel really mad because those people in the article are so racist even though they say they are not. I’m also surprise because they all live in Queens which is a very diverse place in the US. I mean we heard the news about the racist small town all the time, but this is actually happened in the city. The thing that bothers me the most is when they said about hotel being used as a prostitutes’ house. I can’t believe anyone will actually think that unless they have evident to prove or something weird about the place. Having an Indian or Asian developer does not mean that they will use it for prostitution. Just think about this, if a hotel (owned by white people) is building in the neighborhood will anyone think it might turn to prostitutes’ house? This is absolutely ridiculous. The other thing about the article is that people are sad that they are closing down the ice cream shop. Well, I can understand how they feel when it symbolized and mean so much to the neighborhood. But as the article goes on, the topic is changed to immigrants are moving to the neighborhood. I just don’t see anything wrong with it. I know there are culture differences such as food, religious practice, clothes etc. but is that necessary mean bad thing? I am a minority and used to live in the town where there is little diversity. A lot of people wish that they have more diversity because they want to experience different culture and learn from people. The people from the article are very close-minded. This is sad that they don’t even realized what they are doing or even talking about in article is very racist. First of all, they are not even the first one who lived there, how can they claim the neighborhood to be theirs? I think everyone has a right to live wherever they want to. I don’t even know why all of the sudden, the article about closing down the ice-cream shop has to do with Indian people are moving in to this town. By reading more and more articles about race in this class, makes me realized how big race issue is in the states. People just don’t talk about it but they actually do what I called racism. As long as we still referred to people by the color of the skin rather than personality, race will still be an issue. I just hope that someday we can all live peacefully. This article makes me think of the old day when we still have segregation, we have come so far and I hope we will keep moving forward in a good direction.
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Marlon Chopra
Reading that article made me hungry, I am not going to lie. All the talk of roti and dhal made me homesick for some of my mom’s cooking. I guess you could say I am a South Asian American. I just say I am Indian, even though I am not fully Indian. My father was born in India and left when he was in his late teens. My mother was born in Guyana and left in her late teens as well. They originally came to Canada, where I was born. They left Canada for good when I was around three years old. They came to the United States to create a better life for them and to set up a good life for their children. You could say they were chasing the American dream when they left our nice, normal life in Canada. Chasing the American dream is what the South Asian immigrants of Bellerose, Queens are doing.
I have quite a bit of family that lives in Queens. I go there every now and again, but I am not very close with them. I have family in Jamaica and Liberty, Queens. I have some family elsewhere in Queens, but I forgot where; see I am not that close with them. I can vouch for the fact that there are a lot of South Asians and West Indians in Queens, I mean a lot. Some parts are 100% dominated by South Asians and West Indians. There are markets and stores. Lots of random businesses too, but it is mainly markets and goods store. When they mentioned the galub jamun (they spelt it wrong), it made my mouth water. Galub jamun is a type of sugary ball. It is drenched in caramelized sugar and is delicious served warm, you can eat it cold too, but it is much better warmed, trust me. Sorry, I went off on a food tangent there.
I can definitely see where the residents of Bellerose are coming from. They feel their way of life is being stripped away and they cannot do anything about it. They need someone to blame for this, so they chose the people whom are moving in. You could compare this to the Mexican Immigration, but I think it is starkly different. The people of Bellerose do not have money to keep their way of life the way it is. They are mad that people with money are coming in a changing it. I see it boiling down to that the people of Bellerose are jealous that they don’t have the same money some of the “new comers” have. They are jealous that they cannot just come in, buy an establishment and make it the way they want it. This has been going on for many, many years. Where new people suddenly shift into a community and the people that have been there reject them. Some people could reject them purely on race and skin colour, but I feel it is more jealousy than anything.
When I moved into my neighborhood as a kid, we did not see too much opposition. I think it was only small opposition because it was only us. We were and still are the only Indian family there. We did not carry in other people with us, it was just us. Because of that, few saw us as a threat to their way of live. It probably helped that were are not super traditional Indians. We don’t blast Indian music and smell of spices, so we blend somewhat well.
In case you were wondering, I am an American citizen now. After September 11th, my parents decided we had to become American citizens. They were afraid of what the future held and what could happen to us if something were to go wrong.
This article did not offend me in any way. This sort of thing happens and just like the Indian men profiled in the article, they are just keeping on with their lives. You can’t let some opposition stop you, or else you would not get anywhere in life.
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The first two things that come to mind when I read that article are racism and fear of change. But I think the two generally do go hand in hand in cases like this. People fear change because it is different than what they are used to. I think a good point was made in the blog entry, 80 years ago, or even more recently, the families of these people that are now complaining, were the new people on the block just a few generations ago.
I know for example, that my grandmother will tell you how she had to leave the Bronx because the neighborhood was changing. It was no longer a place where she wanted to raise her children. Her family had been there for a few generations and she did not like the direction the place was headed. Would I say that my grandmother is racist? Maybe by this account. Otherwise you would never guess that. But I think it may be more acceptable for older people. You can’t be mad at an old person for their views, because chances are they are just becoming senile. Would call herself racist? No. She would say that she was just making the right choices for her family. I for one am grateful that she picked up her kids and moved out to long island. It gave her children a better chance to have a better education. Her children are all success stories. One became a doctor, one got her masters degree, and the other is a very successful CPA. If she had not moved I doubt those children would be where they are today. I am thankful that she moved because it gave me a foot up. Because my mother was afforded the possibility of a good education I was then given a better starting off point.
I got off point there, but all I was trying to say is that places change. They evolve. No one owns the right who can say who can live somewhere. If you don’t like what is going on in your neighborhood, as sad as it may be, you are free to leave and find a place that is a better fit for you. Now if my favorite ice cream shop got closed to build a cheap hotel, I’d be pretty pissed. But the statement that the other people are just jealous of the success of the new group seemed kind of out of place. I do not believe that this is the case. I really do not think that success has anything to do with it. I know in my hometown they wanted to build a Hilton Garden Inn, in an unused lot. And people were very upset. They had to go through a lot of trouble to get that place built. I think people just do not like things to change, and they will do anything to stop it.
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First of all, I am glad that finally we have a blog about something other than black vs. white racism. There are so many other racial issues going on in the world that are just as important, and need to be discussed.
In reading the article as well as the blog entry, I was very appalled when I read some of the comments mentioned about Asians and Indians who live in the United States. One part in the article “The Great Divide,” explains how one man and his friend felt about these new immigrants. Franco states, “It’s not the kind of store an American goes into, ” in describing South Asian grocery stores that had recently opened up in new York. Wow. Did he really just say that? How does he know that Americans don’t go to stores like that? I go to many different types of ethnic grocery stores, and I am an American—a Native American at that! That statement was absolutely uncalled for. He is sitting there talking down upon anyone who wants to come to America. And their only reason is to “bring their country here,” and to take away what we are used to. Frankly, our culture is mainly built off of bits and pieces of other cultures. Besides, the Asians and Indians who live there in New York even felt that everyone got along quite well. Why is it that they feel like everything is good, and everyone else has the problem?
In one of the interviews with John Dolan, I was a bit confused. Why was the part about calling the pay phone included in the article? Was that to imply that the girls answering the phones were prostitutes, because then that would back up the argument about how the hotel will mainly be used by prostitutes? However, it seemed so out of place and had no real reasoning behind it.
The last line of the article also made me a bit concerned. The statement about “here comes our Obama” made it seem as if Barack is one of theirs and will be representing their people and no one else. It made it seem as if the Asian Indians feel that now that he is president and his name is from their ancestry, they now rule the world.
I completely agree with Sam in how this article is difficult to make sense of. It is hard to figure out how these interviews are a good representation of how Americans feel about the Asian Indians who are “taking over.” Truthfully, it could even be biased since the people who were interviewed were not very reliable people. Many of the people who were talking had some form of alcohol in their system. Now I honestly do not think that we can make judgments based on that. That would be making fools of us, no more than those who spoke in the article.
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After reading this article, I believe this is absolutely racism, by far! The people in this town act like their race is more important than others. I highly disagree with this. As much as these residents would say they are not racist, they are only fooling themselves. It’s funny to read this article because just yesterday in my other sociology class, that also involves race and ethnicity, we watched a movie about segregation. This movie was about families who live in the suburbs of Chicago. This neighborhood was mainly white upper class families but then as time went by higher class black families would move in. One of the black families that moved in drove a Porsche and both parents were attorneys. So obviously they are a well educated family. So as more black families moved into this community, the white families began to move out. NBC News did an interview with the white families who were moving out and when asked why they moved they would not flat out say it was because of the black families but they beat around the bush. It was beyond obvious that they were racist. Some of the white families said they did not feel safe with these families living there. That’s a stereotype they had about blacks, that crime follows them. Also, they said that since blacks are moving into the community the education at the public schools would not be as good. So these white families kept making excuses and some even went to say that the crime rate increased and test scores decreased. NBC interviewed the police department and none of that was true. The crime rates have been the same for years. After reading this article it reminded me of that NBC interview. Both angered me. It really irritates me that certain negative stereotypes are always associated with certain races. Why are blacks always associated with crime? I have black neighbors and then I have white neighbors and the black neighbors are ten times better than the whites. I just don’t understand why we live in a society that is so judgmental. Now I am just rambling on but the subject of racism really just angers me! We just live in such a segregated world. If you think about it, there are predominately white neighborhoods and then there are many black neighborhoods. Same goes for Latinos and Asians.
Anyways, I think this is kind of the same situation here. These families are racist and won’t admit it. They just do not feel comfortable with other races and ethnicities moving into their neighborhood. Honestly, I think that is pathetic. We live in a world with so many different kinds of people and hopefully one day we can all live in a world with no racism.
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Racism in Bellerose
I truly do think that the perspectives of those in this particular neighborhood are “racist,” and I think that in most cases it is played out as a migration factor so that may it doesn’t come off as negative. However, judging by what the community people have said about immigrants and the way they are taking over, makes it seem like an involuntary imperialist, when in actual fact, they are purchasing land just as people do all the time. And its also hard to say, no they’re race doesn’t matter, because in actual fact, every time you step outside your door, race matters!
A lot of times, I think I get frustrated when people say that foreigners are the problem and they never stop to realize that the problem is the nationalist attitude that is obviously embedded in their minds. Looking around, I can remember my father said a comment once about my neighborhood and those of Caribbean decent moving in (particularly from Haiti). He said “look at all these coconuts taking over our neighborhood.” I don’t quite know whether or not he remembers saying that in my presence, but I think it did resonate with me. In American culture we preach about how we’re a melting pot, and anyone is welcome in this land, but in actual fact I think we have hidden exceptions to that statement. Like, come lay down your burdens, but not TOO much, because we don’t want them, or all are welcome, as long as you don’t touch our stuff, take our land, work harder to get OUR jobs, or pretend like your actually one of us, because you’re not and we know you’re NOT.
Now does that seem like equality to you? Does that seem like justice for all, because in the midst of things, keep in mind that equality is only as equal as we want it to be. For example, I’m sure we all played that childhood game by which the line goes “one for you, two for me.” To us, this seems like just a song, but to me, it shows that not only are we taught inequality in early childhood, but clearly it carries throughout our lives.
This begs the question of, what now? What do we do to stop the chain? When will we stop blaming our own insecurities on an ethnic group or race or class? When will we REALIZE what we are actually saying? Like “he’s dumb or in jail because he is a black man,” or “I don’t feel comfortable with the Arab that owns the corner store,” or “these immigrants are taking over.” I think it will stop when we come to the conclusion that the bylaws and rules and regulations of this nation is just another KING OF THE HILL GAME.
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I’m taking a new approach to this blog response and am writing the article as I read through it. I feel like this new method will help get my initial reactions from the article out and on the page in a more efficient manner. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after reading Sam’s response, but I have to say that within the first couple minutes of reading the article it was quite apparent, these people ARE racist. I got a kick out of this, “In 1998, an old motorcycle shop on Braddock Avenue became a Sikh temple. Around the same time, grocery stores on Hillside Avenue began to sell basmati rice in 40-pound burlap sacks and a syrupy sweet pastry called gulab jamun. One new store sold statues of Hindu deities, and some longtime residents were baffled by the sight of a large elephant-headed figure with 10 arms in the front window.” When I read this, I started laughing. Now don’t confuse my laughter, I laugh because such blatant racism such as this is funny because we can’t really do anything about it. In that quote the author is making it seem like it’s such a big deal. Oh my gosh, there selling rice in bulk now at stores?! A motor cycle shop is a Sikh temple?! Talk about resisting change. I got another good laugh when they said residents are wondering if they are putting advertisements in the back of seats on air planes. These are clear and bold racist comments. The old locals either have something against the Asian Indians because of their race, or because there is an ever increasing competition to thrive in this small town. I’m going to give the locals the benefit of the doubt on this one. I think they don’t just not like the Asian Indians because of their ethnicity, the anger they have towards them stems from the Indians taking them out of their comfort zone by changing what they are use to. This anger is causing them to say things like, “They’re renting their rooms to people from their country,” one man said, according to an article in The Jamaica Times, a local newspaper that covered the event. “You’re changing our whole way of life, our whole neighborhood,” the man reportedly said to Mr. Patel.” Maybe I’m reading too much into their statements, but to me there sounds like there is a whole bunch of animosity towards the Asian Indians. Sam is right, it seems like they forgot that there ancestors are not the original inhabitants this little neighborhood. I don’t understand why though, that its still so hard for these people to come to terms with others stabilizing themselves in their community.
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The residents of Bellerose are contradicting themselves in saying that they are not racist when the next comment is a story about seeing someone of another race and culture walking down the road and laughing at them. I also agree in understanding that a piece of the town that many hold dear with memories being taken down may affect so many of the residents in a negative way, and that is fine for them to show that they are upset and protest it, but to be so upset because they are worried about who will be taking it over because they may be another race is simply pathetic. Even to assume that a successful and well known hotel chain would only bring prostitutes and a bad image for the community is going too far and to me seems a little extreme. I also agree that its not fair to place the blame on those buying it. Simply because a shop holds memories with the town does not mean that it is continuing to do well. If someone else can afford to buy the property and create something profitable out of it, then why not try something new. Too many people are afraid of change and how it might affect them in a bad way, but the people who want to build the hotel are only trying to make the down a little better. I also think that the people in the town show racism when thinking that this potentially good change would be a step towards making the neighborhood closer to becoming a third world country. That is absolutely ridiculous. Instead of looking at all of these situations so pessimistically, people need to open their eyes and realize that maybe other people are coming here because the United States is a good place to live and they want to be a part of it. There are so many opportunities in this country and I think that Mr. Patel is only taking advantage of that. If everyone traced back their ancestry they would find that there is no way they are 100 percent American. So by discriminating against those who are doing exactly what our ancestors did, which is travel to a new land and start a good life, they are only being hypocritical and making themselves look bad. The fact that this white community thinks they are so much better than any other race or culture really makes their neighborhood look bad. One of the biggest things our country has strived to achieve for so long now is to be able to look past someone’s color and accept them for who they are. If an entire community can be demeaning enough to judge someone by their color they way they are, racism is just never going to end. Wake up.
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I agree with same when he says this is racism. These people are so afraid of change in their community, that they would say comments such as “Here comes our Obama.” I can’t say that I’m surprised by it, because this type of attitude can be seen in many areas of the United States. I can’t help but think that if this ice cream place has been so popular, why they haven’t considered moving to a different location is pretty interesting to me. These New Yorkers act as if they haven’t had the chance to make money, or see an opportunity to make a name for themselves, they wouldn’t follow though?
This story reminds me of a place called “Ye ol’ Country Cupboard, this is a small country store that makes different lunch meat sandwiches with that home made touch. The store was owned by an older couple in their 70s, but had to be sold because of the economy about a year and a half ago. The store was bought by a Middle Eastern man that changed its name and repainted it yellow to stick out like a sore thumb. I know that many people in the area were upset about the change of ownership and changes that were made. I have heard some of the patrons make sarcastic remarks about the owner and how they think that the store can only go down hill from here.
These people are so narrow minded in my opinion, they only think about themselves and what they are comfortable with, take them out of the daily norm or take them away from something that has been familiar for many years, and they will whine and complain and will do so until no one cares to listen to them any longer. I agree with the statement by Harshad Patel when he says “It’s a kind of jealously”. The residents seem jealous that these people are making a living for themselves and purchasing and building in areas that they have become use to. I laughed to myself when Patel asked the communities to buy the place and run it for 10 years. It was like saying stop bitching about it and do something. When no one stepped forward, it proved the point that all they wanted to do was try to complain as much as possible until they got their way. Times change, and you should change with them.
Mr. Augugliaro said “he was not a racist”, but how can you say that when you refer to the new community members as changing the neighborhood into a 3rd world country? No matter how much you do not want to admit it yourself, these people are racists. Remarks like that just reinforce it.
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I think that many people are hypocrites, when it comes down to it. Like Sam states these inhabitants did not just appear out of thin air. They had relatives who came off a boat from all over Europe and settled there. Most were likely scrutinzed because they were different. For a while everyone looked down on the Irish, so it is Ironic that this town is mostly made of up Irish people. I think that people who may belong to a group that was scrutinzed because they weren’t directly affected assume that they belong in this town whereas the Indians do not. I live on Long Island and am 40 mins from the city. I have seen diversity and I have seen it’s negative side. As is this example. These people need to get off their high horse, stop trying to keep change out of the town and literally just shut the fuck up. The economy is in the toilet and this place isn’t making money. Its being bought and maybe something good will come of it. People are always afriad of change they think the world is going to end and life as we now it will perish. First of all if it werent for chnage their ancestors would have been shipped back to Europe and they might not have been born. Why do we always fight things?
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After reading this article I experienced two completely opposing responses. On one side, I can understand the feeling of fear of the minority taking over your home, and have the potential result in moving or being driven out. On the other side, I have a stronger belief of America being a “melting pot” meaning Americans should be tolerant and embrace other cultures that seek the opportunities and resources that America represents. With all that said, New York is comprised of many diverse religions, races, and ethnicities. In a place such as Queens, or more specifically Bellerose, the Natives should expect a gradual shift or change in the number of immigrants moving into their town. Statistics show that by 2020 about 60% of our population will be comprised of immigrants. It should come as no surprise to citizens of America to find increases in diversity moving into your neighborhood.
From my perspective, I extracted from the article that the reason behind the uproar from the inhabitants of Bellerose is because of fear and jealousy that another race or culture is advancing and moving forward, whereas your culture may be in an economic decline or may just be stagnant. Just as Harshad Patel said in the article about the Frozen Cup ice cream shop, “If they have so much feeling… let them buy it”. I agree with what Patel is trying to say here.. actions speak louder than words so if inhabitants of Bellerose are going to complain about the closing of the Frozen Cup, or the construction of a hotel run by Asian Indians, they should be the ones to provide reasons not to.
I think that this foreign influence on Bellerose can only lead to progress through social and economical integration of businesses and a shift in population. If Bellerose were to petition or rebel against this influx of immigrants, they would be considered to be encouraging racism and segregation. Do we really want to undo the hard work of Martin Luther King and the many other historical figures that worked so hard to help improve our society? I feel that the United States has come a long way to help reducing racism and segregation. I never thought the time would come when the United States elected a black man as our President. Look how far we’ve come…. we should also view the influx of immigrants as progress!
Living in twenty first century, especially in an economic depression that the last few years have brought, you would think people of America would be a little more understanding of people’s hardships and the need to grasp opportunities of profit and revenue. This would apply to the influx of Asian Indians in Bellerose. Why should someone hold another person’s success or dream of succeeding against them just because of the color of their skin? Everyone in America is trying to succeed and get ahead. I guess the question is a little simpler than the answer, but I think this is a very important question to ask yourself especially if you agree with the inhabitants of Bellerose.
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In responding to the blog This is Racism, in Case Anyone is Wondering, is a tragic to here that some of the people in New York are racist against Asian Indians. I thought this is a free country and the United States of America expresses that’s justice for all. That sentence contradict itself because if there is justice for all, then why people who are different from one other discriminate against each others then? The United States of America was designed for the some of the racist white people to help them out, but to oppress the minorities. The Asian Indian have the right to open up there business any where they want and can afford. America is too focused on race or gender so much, that it has gotten out of control. Many of the neighbors in Queens, New York are complaining about the Asians are going to take over the neighborhood and that is totally disrespectful to say just based on their color. If some of the people of America stop basing everything on race and gender, then we can get a lot more accomplished in America. I thought that the United States of America is treats every on the same and makes no difference, but unfornately it still happens today. It is truly a harsh situation that the Asians have to deal with especially, having a business located in an area that some of the individual are close minded. If the United States is constantly having issues in relating to race or even foreigners, this will give this country a very bad name. Some of the foreigners have been mistreated which it will have in effect on how some of theme views the United States of America. Instead of the people of Queens, New York not to be focused on not having Asians or other cultural groups in there neighborhood should be focus on something positive. Besides that, the United States of America is at worst right now due to the economy. As for all of us in the United States of America we should start to create different jobs or careers top help the economy out. Regardless of race or gender, we as humans should wok together to help to make America a better place. I believe it should have been actually a great thing that the Asians brought a business to Queens, New York to help the area out. Instead of some the local residents had gotten upset about that, but they should of open their hearts up and helped them with business. We as people of this great country regardless of foreigners should not have to put up with discrimination like this horrifying one.
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It is interesting how people would conclude that a hotel owned by Asians would lead to prostitution and illegal behaviors. There are many hotels that are owner by Italians, Irish, or Germans that do promote illegal behaviors, just as there are hotels that are owned by Asians that are in no way involved with illegal behaviors. It is clear to me here, that some of the people in this town are correlating crime with minorities, in this cause Asians.
Most of their arguments do not even state or emphasis how they will miss the “Frozen Cup.” Most of their arguments are about how they do not want their town changing, and how it is going to change for the worst. Just because you now have a store that sells “non-American” food, doesn’t mean your town is changing for the worst. This is clearly racist. I found it funny how the man, Mr. Augugliaro, immediately stated how he is not racist, after watching his wife’s reaction. And right afterwards, he tells this story on how he was shocked that a man would wear his culture with pride. When many Italians have their flags tattooed onto their chest, and only wear green, red, and white – why don’t they find this ridiculous?
I think that this is a clear case of people fearing the unknown. They go by what they see on the media and assume, “Wow, look at these Indians and their barbaric ways.” So when Indians move into their towns I can see how they would immediately view them with their already established prejudices. It is kind of sad that some people still have no knowledge on other cultures and even more sad is the fact that some people don’t put effort into learning the truth for themselves, instead they rely on others to define things for them. You would think that people in the 21st century would be at least educated enough to know that not everything you see on tv is true.
The irony in all of this, is how many of these Italian, Irish, German families had great-grandparents, grandparents, or even parents who migrated here. Sure, they may have gotten here earlier than the “new kids (Asians)” but they also migrated there and they brought their own cultural traditions and established some of their own businesses, along with selling some of their own cultures food. If we are really going to play the – “I was here first card” then clearly – they don’t belong there either. Because to be frank, they are immigrants too.
Part of me, wished that the southern Asians would make their culture more understandable to others this way others won’t “fear” it. But after thinking about it, I’m happy that they are just enjoying their lives and not letting this affect them. Why should they go out of their way to explain something, to people that aren’t capable to viewing things outside of their own lenses.
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