Many residents of Cambria Heights remember the 1970s when they were the minority in the neighborhood. The once predominantly white community, has know become a middle class black, mostly Caribbean community.
In this NYTimes article, the writer presents two different views on why Queens is becoming a middle class black borough. Not only have blacks surpassed whites in regards to income, but also West Indian blacks have outshined black Americans in economic status. This is evident with the background of business owners located in Cambria Heights.
One side of the article talks about the substantial impact of the large and continuing migration of whites to Long Island and elsewhere for the approximately the last forty years.
Mrs. Pendleton, a black woman, moved into the neighborhood June of 1969. August of the same year her next-door neighbor moved. One day while in her backyard, she overheard the owner of the house behind hers mention to another neighbor that she had to move before she was “stuck” because of the foreseeable drop in property value. “I have the benefit of being right there without the high property taxes”, stated Mrs. Pendleton. Like Mrs. Pendleton, many blacks either cannot afford to leave Queens or face more opposition by moving into Long Island.
The other side, states that blacks are using the opportunities available, and West Indian blacks especially value them. More blacks are graduating from college and working in professional careers. Angela Webb, an RN and her husband, a business owner came to the US from Jamaica to seek a better life. “Lack of participation and appreciation that black Americans portray in their everyday lives contribute to their failures”, stated Webb. She feels that native blacks have not used the available resources to make their lives productive and successful.
The neighborhood is still changing with the recent sprinkling of Latino, Jewish and Asian residents. Cambria Heights is just another example of the melting pot that makes this country so unique and the continuing change of its demographics.
Unfortunately, there is a virus in American society that is rendering African Americans immobile. This post exposes many of the facets of it. Just the idea of a black family moving in is enough to devalue property. Talk about demoralizing! Then us black folks are using that demoralization as an excuse about why we can’t do better. But really, we’re saying that we won’t because we’re scared we can’t. Add to that blacks of carribean and direct continental African descent doing well, although they view America differently and are new to being black here, and voila, immobilization.