Whenever Brooklyn comes to mind, we instantly think of the admirable images of the Brooklyn Bridge. Williamsburg is the “hippie town” of Brooklyn where tourists visit for great street art culture, vintage vibes and vibrant nightlife.
Brooklyn is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the country because of the amenities and entertainment outlets. In reality, it is not all rainbows and sunshine in New York. Brooklyn is one of the most prominent addresses in NY because this borough is frequently featured in movies and television shows.
The media and tourist industries employ place essentialism by representing Brooklyn as a beautiful tourist attraction focusing on the scenic bridges and beaches. What they failed to portray is the danger and history of certain neighbourhoods in Brooklyn such as Bushwick, Brownsville and Bronx that were areas associated with high crime rates and ghettos.
In Brooklyn, neighbourhoods such as Bushwick and Sunset Park have a large latino community. The early Europeans fled the area and replaced by Puerto Ricans and hispanic groups in the mid 1900s.
Many African American and Latino families are blockbusting and redlining into Brooklyn because the banks and real-estate companies from the 60s to 80s influenced minority groups to this new neighbourhood away from the more affluent areas of NY.
Brooklyn is seen as a popular tourist attraction even at night as the bridges are resplendently lighted and people get their Insta-worthy photos shot or enjoying an indie rock band concert in Williamsburg. However, the dangerous history and reputation of Brooklyn is hidden by the trendy appeal of its surroundings, leaving visitors unaware of mugging and other crimes that are common.
Youngsters like me who enjoy roaming through the night, should be aware of the seedy side of the city and see a bigger picture of the cultural and historical background of Brooklyn.
#ClaudtravelsNYC 