Part two of the controversial video series by Inside USA, “The Battle for Harlem.”
more about “Inside USA – The Battle for Harlem – …“, posted with vodpod
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Inside USA: The Battle for Harlem – Part 2
Posted on June 30, 2008 by D. Bell
MMP Brownstoner
July 2, 2008
Here’s the link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/thinkingallowed/thinkingallowed_20080611.shtml
You can also do a search for “BBC” on this blog. That will pick up the follow-up radio show on gentrification in general.
By the way #3, the radio show addresses the different reactions of various churches to the gentrification issue, from Abyssinian to Atlah. The more affluent Abyssinian has been at the forefront of development while Atlah is attempting to fight it with (in my opinion) racist rhetoric and dubious economic suggestions. (A quick read of the Atlah website reveals that Rev. Manning believes that he met two angels in Prospect Park shortly after his release from prison, who told him that he had a higher purpose.)
Another part of the radio show that I found particularly disturbing has a group of children reciting a description of gentrification.
anon
July 1, 2008
MMP- Do you have the link to the BBC radio show?
Anonymous
July 1, 2008
Has not the ship already let the dock on this one? The horse out the barn?
Let’s be clear, it is the very historical cultural institutions of Harlem that are leading the charge of gentrification & change, is it not? The churches. There are numerous examples in Harlem where they’ve sold some of their land to developers or have entered joint partnerships with developers for luxury condo development. Does that say it all?
But Nellie Bailey does not focus on this fact does she? Why? It would be Old Black Harlem v. Old Black Harlem. That’s not a battle either group wants to have, so they focus on and blame whitey for gentrification.
MMP Brownstoner
July 1, 2008
For a much more balanced view of the issue, I suggest listening to the BBC radio show that was posted here a few weeks ago. The social dynamic was addressed in a much more indepth fashion, with limited “man on the street” interviews.
The show includes an excerpt from one of Rev. Manning’s sermons in which he declares that the brownstones of Harlem belong to his congregation and that white people are living in their houses. So there’s food for the mind and for the emotions.
krik
July 1, 2008
Oddly enough, “Inside USA” is a show that is made in Canada and produced by AlJazeera (Qatar). The host, Avi Lewis, is a pretty well known Toronto-based journalist. From past shows, it seems like their agenda is to expose injustice in the US from a socialist perspective.
That said, the piece on Harlem was pretty biased to the side of people who oppose development. On the other hand, it was the most professionally produced piece on the topic I’ve ever seen.