It seems like Bed-Stuy in NYC is a site where whites are considering the impact their presence could have on this historically-black neighborhood, and where blacks are considering what it means to have a new influx of whites.

Anyway, the article suggests that friendliness is key to establishing good relationships in any new neighborhood.

I have had similar experiences. The historically-black neighborhood of Seattle, The Central District, has always been home to the marginalized groups of the city. It was first settled by Jews, and when they moved on blacks settled there (and were the subject of racist red-lining policies). Now in addition to long-time black families, there are Horn of Africa immigrant families, Asian families, Latino families, and queer households. Now, suddenly developers and upwardly-mobile straight white couples are realizing the Central District is desirable and the predictable gentrification is in progress.

I recall when I first moved to one of the CD’s longstanding queer households, my white friends told me it was a “bad part of town”. I found it no more crime-ridden than the gayborhood of Capitol Hill or the student-populated University District. I hope I’m wrong, but it seems that when a white person calls a neighborhood “bad”, what they really mean is “populated by POC”.

I’ll try one more time:

To address concerns over why we’re moving here, it’s for mostly economic reasons. We’re actually moving with my brother-in-law, too, to save money, The landlord is giving us a $100 discount for knowing the downstairs tenant (it’s a duplex) so it worked out the best. I just want to be a part of the community once I’m there without making a giant amount of avoidable but obvious mistakes, you know?

I promise, there was no saving-people-complex involved.

Also,

Something seems a little off in the description to me. The neighborhood is bad, the block in particular is bad, but they have very involved neighbors on the block with porch parties, etc. In my experience the blocks with the freindly neighbors who know and visist each other tend to be the relatively safe blocks in bad neighborhoods. Perhaps it is just a little exageration for effect.

That’s a good point, and what I’ve found to be true so far. The neighborhood, and block/intersection, have a terrible reputation, but when we checked out the place the other day, I noticed that it wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d anticipated. I certainly didn’t fear for my life or anything. It IS a high-crime area, but I think it’s more of an undeserved reputation than fact. I’m most concerned about the neighborly relations and possible tension, and bringing up the “badness” of the neighborhood was only meant to illustrate the need for community action and working together to make the neighborhood safe for everyone.

I think the whole question is a bit othering. People are people, and while there are distinctive backgrounds and experiences, the best way to understand those is to get to know individual people, not request a tutorial. Coming to a feminist website will get her a number of conflicting responses and much less substance than simply spending time in her neighborhood will.

We weren’t originally considering the neighborhood in our search for a new apartment this summer, and were actually looking at really cheap studios downtown to save money (we both live paycheck-to paycheck and he’s in school part time, so money’s tight). We were made aware of the duplex because my husband has been good friends with the guy that lives downstairs since childhood, and the landlords will give us a $100 discount since we know him. We’re moving with my husband’s brother to save more money. The reason is purely economical, and the upstairs unit that we’d be renting was just remodeled, huge, and a great space overall. It is an added bonus to live upstairs from someone we know well. I assure you, no saving-people complex entered into the equation.

In my experience the blocks with the freindly neighbors who know and visist each other tend to be the relatively safe blocks in bad neighborhoods.

That’s true about this situation as well. When I say the intersection it’s on, I get cringes and warnings, but to hear from the landlord about all the neighbors trying to keep it a safe place to live, it starts to look up. I think (hope) it is largely an undeserved bad reputation, but it’s still a very high-crime area in general.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I can definitely see the benefit of just listening and not trying to throw myself into anything right away.

I’m living a similar situation, except my neighborhood is largely Mexican, with a strong Puerto Rican element as well. I think the advice to just get to know your neighbors and give them an opportunity to know you is important.