Tension between Bronx communities leads to violence

By: May El-Abdallah · October 21, 2009 · Filed Under Uncategorized · Add Comment 

The New York Times recently reported on tensions between African-American and African immigrant communities in the Bronx area of New York City. Already, two violent attacks on African immigrants have been determined to be hate crimes.

The article frames the issue largely in terms of religious and cultural “clash” (and indeed, the comments of the residents interviewed reflect this).

As New York City faces increasing gentrification, and poor communities of colour feel the squeeze, there is an opportunity for crucial cross-cultural dialogue and community-building here. At least one writer posits that the Bronx could become a model for “development without gentrification”.

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