Enforced Diversity, or Gentrified with a side of "Arrogance?"

I remember when my neighborhood was basically a mixture of brown, dark brown, tan & golden brown hues. The community had many chaotic moments, as well as times where smiling was automatic. Of course, that depended on who you had around you, but there were good times nonetheless. Anyone stepping into my neighborhood who wasn't from the area, better know someone from the area, or be extremely mindful of where they were walking.

Somewhere around 7 months ago or so, Jews began coming to houses across Jersey City, NJ, with an intent to buy homes, and move themselves in. To say they've succeeded in their endeavor, is basically a disrespectful understatement. Two blocks from where I live is a street called Martin Luther King Dr (so many "hood" areas have a street named after this great man), where I used to fight to stay away from when I was younger. Now, the police are patrolling that area so often, they might as well build mini camps in every building corner. When did they get so adamant about round-the-clock patrols? Oh you guessed it...when the Jews purchased much of the areas real estate, and slid right on in! I tell you what though, there isn't as much visible drug activity or violence on that street as before.

That's a plus!

From MLK Drive to my Fulton Avenue home, the changes have been quite consistent. The Jewish community purchased so many homes, and through the purchasing, new high rises have been spotted, new condos adorn different places in the downtown area, and many cultures alongside the Jews have been flooding in. The issue though, is that some people of color still live in areas that were purchased, and even though raises aren't frequent on the job spectrum, the fact that rent is rising up and becoming sky high is an unavoidable truth. Certainly it's nice to see different cultures coming in, but too many POC are having to move right on out.

This is the problem! Where I should find a desire to stand and see my culture thrive, there is division, people leaving because the dollar amount trumps the community's desire to remain unified, and a strategic plan that was set up over a decade, finding itself in a successful state.