How I have whiled my time away today...It started several weeks ago when I was sitting in what may be the most beautiful coffee shop talking with the owner about two new coffee houses that were opening up in the neighborhood. There had been a bit of a virtual feud between either the two coffee shops or fans of the two coffee houses culminating in each of their street creds being questioned. One is owned by someone whose family has owned stores and buildings in the neighborhood for who knows how long and the other by some young newcomers who clearly have the pulse of this gentrifying 'hood. Words have flown and articles have now been published about the two shops. All dancing around one interesting issue which remains unspoken but very much in the air. The newcomers to this previously predominantly Afro-Caribbean, Black-American and African neighborhood are black while the old time-but never resident- member of the community appears to be white.
It puts a different twist on gentrification right? It would be one thing if the old time community member had ever lived in the neighborhood, but he has made it clear that he has never been interested in that.
The final twist is that the old time member is not white --by US standards--although he does pass and seems to actively choose to do so.

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile