Open Thread Wednesday

South skies rainbow yesterday

Dear all–

We appreciate the open thread Weds! We are writing in response to the issue of the Brooklyn Bridge Park basketball courts and safety on Joralemon street.

We see that some here balk at the suggestion that there are racial implications to the conversation. We have not been surprised to see some deny that there are such elements at play, claiming that the conversation would be going exactly the same way if the people in question—the groups of teenagers purportedly invading our neighborhood and threatening our safety—were white. But how could that be so? If a white kid punched a white man in the head on Joralemon Street that would make it to the police blotter but would it be considered newsworthy?

It is extremely dangerous to claim that there are no racial questions at stake in this conversation, and to isolate it from the discourse nationally over race in America. It is in fact precisely such a stance—at once engaging in prejudicial language and denying that such positions have racial implications—that allows the continuance of systemic racism in this country. Saying that “it would be the same if they were white” is like saying “if my aunt had balls”: it is a logical impossibility.

There are longstanding historical reasons for the fact that these so-called outsiders are black, (we happen to live in a neighborhood that conducted the Underground Railroad, helping the enslaved secure freedom) and denying those reasons, especially at this national moment, can only have the effect of perpetuating them. How can there be no racial, or socio-economic, implications, to what the New York Times claims is the most frequent suggestion from BH residents for what might replace the basketball courts: ie, tennis courts? It couldn’t be more black and white.

We understand that from the perspective of every resident who is worried about this issue, they are simply looking out for their own and their family’s personal safety. But horrendous things have been happening in this country in the name of personal safety. Brooklyn Heights is a part of a city and people who choose to live in cities don’t live in gated communities. And so we ask, in what way does anyone have any more of a right to be on these streets than anyone else?

Additionally, there are entire populations of people who live with the threat and reality of violence every day because of deeply ingrained national prejudices and problems. Others have benefited from much more so-called personal safety because they can afford to live in certain zip codes. But we shouldn’t mistake that historical imbalance for the suggestion that there are those who deserve to be more safe than others.

This is not to say that residents should not do what they need to do for themselves and their families. Rather, that these are very complex questions that should be kept in mind when making public statements and calling for public policies. As we have seen all too much recently, even something so seemingly simple and unimpeachable as defending one’s personal safety can mask a host of other issues, and we would do well to always think about the implications of what we are demanding.

The conversation about Joralemon Street mirrors national conversations about race, immigration, and the state of America. Calls to keep out certain groups of people from certain geographies because of fear of what they might do sound eerily like calls to build a wall, or make us great again. They also sound like Jim Crow laws whose hallmark were to offer white people separate and better parks paid for by everyone’s taxes.
Respectfully yours from your neighbors,
Emma and Tracy

You say,”If a white kid punched a white man in the head on Joralemon Street that would make it to the police blotter but would it be considered newsworthy?”

I say that yes if anyone was punching someone for no reason at all, it would be newsworthy. I grew up in NYC when it was a dangerous place to be. When I lived in the Village, I was punched by a white guy for no reason. Also, when I worked in Jersey City, I was punched in the head by a black woman as I was crossing the street. In both situations,, I called the police and was upset by the incident.

Those kids on Joralemon Street were playing the knockout “game.” Some game — you can easily be killed with a punch like that man received on Joralemon Street.

I do not agree with your callousness to that and the other incidents that have occurred.

As someone who has lived east of Court street for more than 30 years I’ve always remembered your disgusting 2015 remark about my neighborhood.

From “Open Thread Wednesday, July 29, 2015″

“ArtofAnAngel”
I emailed them to confirm ~Dos Toros is coming to Court b/w Livingston & Joralemon {~;”

….StudioBrooklyn
“Googling it wasn’t too hard. Too bad Court Street btwn Montague and Atlantic is like an open sewer.”

Question for you StudioBrooklyn: Is it hard to talk out of both sides of your mouth at the same time?

You don’t make it over to our neighborhood very often then because you’d see the DOE Fund workers are out every day of the year. I was amazed a couple of weeks ago when you posted a photo on the fence on State street. You must have gotten lost.

Dear Emma and Tracy,

Go $#%^ yourselves.

Get. Rid. Of. The. Basketball. Courts.

– The un-PC

you are a disgusting human, if you can be called a human.

The mere fact that the DOE Fund workers are required to keep it clean spaks volumes. I suspect the reason for it though is the transient workers in the neighborhood. I could expand on that but I won’t.

Ditto what neighboronhicks said. Thank you for such a thoughtful, considered response to a troubling and complex situation.

Please confine your comments to reasoned argument; not insults.

Vendetta!!! Usually reserved for Gothamist and other lesser websites….
I blame BBP and the Pier 2 basketball courts.

This is wrong headed nonsense. I understand you feel strongly, for what I cannot surmise. The dialogue is about safety, not race.

i love the obsessive focus in this post on the national discourse. as if racial issues now only matter cause they are in the spotlight. for these people to speak on any of our hearts or mindsets without knowing the first thing about us, is the very definition of prejudice. my black husband is disgusted at the unnecessary bullshit that has been happening here. the knockout game is not needed to enjoy the basketball courts.acting like this should get a pass is the worst kind of limousine liberal racism. it says that ppl of color deserve a pass on anti-social behavior cause they can’t do better. seriously? i would bet a grip that no matter how poor you assume they are or how bad the environment you assume they come from is (implicitly racist assumptions by the way) at least 75% of the kids who engaged in bullshit behavior have a parent, grandparent, aunt, sibling someone who has taught them better and expects better. stop acting like all these kids are les miserables. if we set no expectations for behavior, what is the motivation? the worst part is by reinforcing these stereotypes that black kids are all so fucked up all they can do is damage makes it harder for my biracial (black in society’s eyes) kid. that is a complex concept that only people who live in a racial reality understand. peeking in fhe liberal limousine window and throwing around empty assumptions and platitude is frankly a waste of internet space.

A gentle reminder of this, from “Lifehacker’s guide to weblog comments”: “Chances are something someone says in a comment or post is going to irk you. Still, personal attacks are unacceptable, useless and can quickly degrade a discussion to a third grade “Yo Mama” flamefest. Resist the urge, and be respectful and objective at all times.”

I wondered about that. I don’t have a nose for the different varietals so it’s entirely possible that’s what I’ve detected…