Spike Lee Believes Cobble Hill Has Gentrified Into Brooklyn Heights

By on July 8, 2012 2:35 pm in Arts and Entertainment, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn History, Celebrity Residents, Cobble Hill

In a lengthy Q&A on New York magazine’s Vulture blog, Spike Lee talks with writer Will Leitch in detail about his roots in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill. The director was born in Atlanta, and moved to Crown Heights at an early age, followed by eight years beginning around the age of 4—from 1961 to 1969—at 186 Warren Street, between Henry and Clinton streets.

Lee’s take: Cobble Hill has gentrified to the point that it’s now… Brooklyn Heights. Read more at Cobble Hill Blog.

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  • Knight

    He just wants to be able to say that he grew up in Brooklyn Heights!

  • my2cents

    Spike lives on the UES and still thinks he has “street cred.” I am sure his kids play stickball on Park Avenue…What a phony.
    Considering the number of long-established churches in BH and general dearth of synagogues I would also call BS on his claim that the neighborhood was ever a “jewish” enclave. His quote is more an example of his closeted anti-semitism rearing its head again. Next thing he’ll say is that Jews started the Casino to keep blacks out.

  • Mr. Crusty

    What did he say that was anti-Semitic? That he thought BH was Jewish? Even if he was factually wrong I don’t take that as an anti-Semitic remark.

  • my2cents

    You have to read between the lines, Mr. Crusty.

  • AEB

    But CH isn’t “now Brooklyn Heights” as the demographics are different–CH is younger, for one thing.

    In any case, Lee’s antisemitism is glaring. Has been for some time. A depressing underscoring of the verity that as you’ve been scapegoated, so shall you (go out of your way to) scapegoat.

  • AEB

    Could any neighborhood be LESS Jewish, historically, than BH? It’s the old Jews = money association–noxious because it salutes a stereotype.

  • O/mar

    Maybe he would be happier back selling his tube socks, 3 for $5.00 on Court Street.

  • Mr. Crusty

    I’d rather not “read between the lines” to proclaim someone anti-Semitic. That is a pretty vile charge and one which I certainly don’t believe is warranted by this one comment in this interview. Charges of anti-semitism shouldn’t be so cavalierly thrown around in my opinion.

    How about O/mar’s “tube socks” comment? Should we read between the lines and label that comment racist?

  • Bloomy

    I didn’t seen anything wrong with what Lee said. I have two synagogue on my street, so in my little corner of BH it is quite jewish. And they are great neighbors, even though I think all religions are a huge hoax.

  • Bob Sacamano

    Just an observation, but any time there is a comment made about about the jewish people on this blog, someone has to view it as anti-Semitic. Just because a comment is made about the jewish people someone is being labeled anti-semitic. I think Knight says it right in the first comment.

  • sue

    Spike.. puts all jews in a box as rich and powerful.. his sterotyping is glaring…The fact that he sees the old Heights as Jewish is so far fetched. Jews were not even allowed to join the casino then…
    We do not have to call it anitsemitism we can all it religious sterotyping.

  • my2cents

    Sipke’s specific comment alone isn’t antisemitic. It’s his consistent comments about jews over the years and his portrayal of jews in his movies that is why many people consider him a closeted anti-semite. This latest comment is just part of that pattern of behavior.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    A black man says “Jewish” and people freak out. It is easy to see who are the real bigots here.

  • my2cents

    no, a man distorts history and people freak out. Go back to sleep Arch.

  • Cranberry Beret

    No arch, specifically what spike said was not just “Jewish” but “rich, Jewish” to describe the Heights. The fact that he automatically assumes rich people are Jews (which as others have pointed out is pretty laughable in the context of the Heights) is evidence on its own (even apart from his history of such statements) of a smear against Jews. (And it’s a smear because his response is about how the rich people of the heights discriminated against blacks.) Whether you want to call that antisemitism or not is your business.

  • Cranberry Beret

    “Spike Lee Complains about Rich Jews Who Set Up St. Ann’s”

    Sounds kind of silly doesn’t it? But that’s Spike Lee for you.

  • Telling It Spike It Is

    One thing that has become painfully clear is that the notion that Hollywood’s constellation of stars, directors and producers should be sought out to opine on anything other than their name and birth date is pure foolishness, to put it mildly. No one embodies the dunderheaded remarks of celebs than Spike Lee who has come off sounding like an idiot any time he is asked to express his views. Although Spike’s lifestyle and demeanor are far closer to that of the wealthy elite, he bends over backwards to cultivate a “cool, hip” image in the black community to offset this reality. In so doing, he constantly trips himself up with discombobulated and racist commentary. Spike should learn to keep his trap shut.

  • Anon

    Cobble Hill now like Brooklyn Heights? Time to move!

  • Bette

    this is apropos of nothing on this list but can someone tell me where I can make 6 copies (of a 20 page script) that won’t break the bank so to speak?

    Hey Karl – can you start a new page like the Open Thread Wednesdays for requests like mine, where I can’t wait until Wednesday for these great people to help each other (which they have done so well in the past)?

    Like “The Help Thread” or something like that? (sorry to interrupt the discussion thread – I just really need these copies and Yelp says Fed Ex is a nightmare!!)

  • Gerry

    I am tired of the Height Casino being labled as an anti semetic club it is not

  • Bloomy

    @ Bette Court Street Office Supplies could surely help you out, not sure about the cost of copies though. The Brooklyn Heights Library also has a copy machine.

  • BH’er

    for whatever animosity Mr Lee has towards the rich, religions or other groups, I simply ask, may I have your courtside seats to any upcoming Knicks home game?

    He can have any opinion he wants and share them with whoever feels like asking/reading

    I would like to sit courtside

    ps I am thinking about moving to CH, now… it’s younger and less stodgy, I hear

  • sue

    Gerry
    Can you deny that at one time -not to long ago -it was restricted?

  • Bette

    Quick drop in – Thanks Bloomy! Bette

    Back to the discussion!

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    Dear Two Cent Opinion and AEB, The fact is, back in the 60’s & 70’s, the Heights had a significantly higher Jewish and wealthier population than Cobble Hill. Growing up here I had almost as many Jewish friends as non Jews. So to say the Heights was “Rich, (comma used to separate items) Jewish” is not too much of a distortion. Although it does leave out other demographics. BTW Spike Lee’s mother taught at St. Anne’s, which was founded not to keep blacks out but more keep the white Heights kids from having to attend public school with all the “ghetto kids” I attended both schools, PS 8 had a a few white students and St. Anne’s had only a couple of black students.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Gerry perhaps the Casino is not anti-Semitic presently but It had a sad history of not allowing Jews or Blacks to be members until they were forced by economic necessity to change their policy. Not a very proud legacy I would suggest.

  • Knight

    @Bette — the FedEx/Kinkos on Court Street has never let me down. Their copies are high quality and the turnaround time is excellent (except when law students have term papers due!).

  • my2cents

    Arch, you had friends as a child?

  • AEB

    Arch, Cobble Hill in the 60s-70s: Jews: 1 1/2. BH: Jews: 10. Or 30. Or 100. Which still did not makes the Heights Jewish.

  • Mr. Crusty

    Arch how dare you use facts to refute the attacks on Spike Lee? He said rich and Jewish in the same sentence so obviously he is anti-Semitic. No need to disparage Jews in any way just “read between the lines”.

    He also mentioned St Ann’s so he is obviously anti-Catholic.

    He also mentioned Cobble Hill being “mobbed up” so he is obviously anti-Italian.

    He also mentioned that African-Americans are obese so he is obviously anti-Black.

    see how silly this gets?

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