Information AboutCrown Heights |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN | |
| neighborhoods in brooklyn | |
| orthodox jewish communities in the united states | |
| united states communities with african american majority populations | |
| chabad communities | |
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HISTORY Crown Heights had begun as a posh residential neighborhood, a "bedroom" for Manhattan's growing Bourgeois class. Beginning in the 1880s, many upper-class residences, including characteristic Brownstone buildings, were erected. This development peaked in the 1920s, and before the Second World War Crown Heights was among New York City's premier neighborhoods, with tree-lined streets, an array of cultural institutions and parks, and a large number of fraternal, social and community organizations. In the mid-twentieth century, however, White Flight from New York and other American cities occurred, and many of the more established residents left. Apartment vacancies increased, mounting pressure on property owners to rent to tenants who would formerly have been excluded from the area. Concurrently, the values of private homes began to fall, and both white and non-white middle class families felt compelled to move out before their houses were devalued further. Their place was taken by Blacks, Hispanics, and Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. The 1960s and '70s were a time of turbulent race relations, and riots and conflict plagued New York along with other American cities. With its racially mixed population, Crown Heights was mired in this strife, particularly experiencing many acts of violence targeting the neighborhood's large population of Hasidic Jews . During the Johnson administration, Crown Heights was declared a primary poverty area due to a high unemployment rate, high juvenile and adult crime rate, poor nutrition for lack of family income, relative absence of job skills and readiness to work, and a relatively high concentration of elderly residents. Through the 1990s, crime, racial conflict, and violence decreased across the United States. Urban renewal and Gentrification began to change the face of Crown Heights, further diversifying its population economically, socially, and racially. Recently the crime and violence in the area has increased dramatically, especially anti semitic hate crimes against Jewish residents by African-American youth.The increase in crimes against Jews can be seen at http://crownheights.info DEMOGRAPHICS The worldwide headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic Jew ish community, at 770 Eastern Parkway , is located in Crown Heights. A large number of Blacks from the Caribbean coexists, uneasily at times, with Hasidic Jews in Crown Heights. In recent years, a considerable number of Latin America n and Russia n Immigrant s have also moved into the neighborhood. More recently, (see below), Crown Heights has seen an upwardly mobile influx -- a racial mix of artists, professionals, students, and gays and lesbians. These new inhabitants are mostly young, middle-class professionals, or couples who shun condos but can’t afford settled brownstone communities like Park Slope and Cobble Hill. Violence has erupted in this neighborhood on more than one occasion, including during the New York City Blackout Of 1977 . However, the best-known series of events -- the Crown Heights Riot -- occurred in 1991. Crown Heights is also known for its annual West Indian Carnival . Its main event is the West Indian Carnival Parade, also known as "The Labor Day Parade." The parade route goes along Eastern Parkway, from Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza . According to the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association , over 3.5 million people participate in the parade each year. CROWN HEIGHTS TODAY Crown Heights today is a series of interesting paradoxes, from its lovely architecture to its vacant, run-down buildings, from variously hatted and top-coated Lubavitcher communities to vegan rasta Afro-Caribbean restaurants. Rising real estate values and gentrification have also recently become part of this mix. The lovely brownstones, Medgar Evers College -CUNY, proximity to Park Slope, and great train access mean that some real estate developers are already trying to shift the prices of area housing while ignoring what are still some of the highest crime rates and worst racial tension anywhere in the five boroughs. Murders, rapes, and other violent crimes dipped significantly in the mid-90's, and continue to fall. NYC.GOV statistics for 2007 reveal that the 77th precinct, which includes a significant part of Crown Heights, has experienced a year-to-date decline of 40% in the number of murders (a total of 9, down from 15), and of 20% in the number of rapes (12, down from 15). However, felonious assaults and burglaries have increased significantly (16.8 and 24.8%, respectively)1 THE CROWN HEIGHTS RIOT See Also: Crown Heights Riot The Crown Heights Riot was a multi-day riot in Crown Heights in August, 1991. The riots were precipitated by the death of a seven-year-old Guyanese boy named Gavin Cato, killed by a car that was a part of a motorcade returning from the Lubavitcher Rebbe's father-in-law's grave. As the car crossed the intersection, it was hit by another car, causing it to veer out of control and run over Gavin.A private Hatzolah ambulance came to the scene and removed the Hasidic driver on the orders of a police officer, who also ordered the ambulance to leave the area without considering the injured boy, since a city ambulance had been called for. The city ambulance arrived soon after to treat Gavin, who died of his injuries at a nearby hospital. African-American residents of the neighborhood, along with other African-American's who were brought to the neighborhood and fueled on by black leaders such as Al Sharpton , rioted for four consecutive days fueled by a mistaken belief that the treatment of the car accident victims was unequal. Fires were set and shops were looted as the riot grew out of control, with crowds throwing stones and other objects at the Jewish residents. Yankel Rosenbaum, 29, a visitor from Australia , was killed by a mob of at least 20 rioters. Before dying, Rosenbaum was able to identify 16-year-old Lemrick Nelson, Jr. as one of his assailants. Nelson was charged with the killing, but acquitted. This has been viewed by the media as a Miscarriage Of Justice , motivated by Anti-Semitism . After the acquittal, Nelson admitted to having stabbed Rosenbaum, and was convicted for having violated his civil rights. Then mayor David Dinkins was criticized for his poor handling of the events, and the turmoil proved to be a key issue in the next New York City mayoral election, contested in 1993 as a rematch between incumbent David Dinkins and Rudolph Giuliani , whom Dinkins had narrowly defeated four years earlier. Giuliani won the election, and subsequent polls showed that a significant shift in the Jewish vote from 1989 was a contributing factor in his victory. STRUCTURAL LANDMARKS
SEE ALSO NOTES FURTHER READING Race and Religion among the Chosen Peoples of Crown Heights, by Henry Goldschmidt (Rutgers University Press, 2006), (ISBN 0813538971). EXTERNAL LINKS
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