Earthtalk

Over the past two weeks I have spent 10 days in Providence in a very diverse neighborhood. I spent 4 or 5 hours each day sitting on a stoop while my son was moving his stuff from one apt to another in the neighborhood. My job was doorman and driver. As a result I was able to observe the rhythms of the neighborhood as each day progressed. It is an area in transition with many triple deckers divided up into apartments occupied by families and individuals of a wide variety of ethnic and racial makeup, mostly working class. The house across the street has an official police notice on the door that if they are called here again they will shut the place down. The note has been there for months. Gang-related issue, one shooting last year. Judging from the residents appearance and movements, the house to the left of this one appears to be running a call girl operation. As grim as this sounds, the street is overall peaceful and people of all persuasions tend to say hello when they walk by me on the stoop, many with dogs. This is in contrast to what I experience in Boston and Rockport. A large park is at the end of the street and fills with families and kids in a playground and young adults playing volley ball at three courts. Two female Asian teams compete at one of the courts. A farmer's market operates in the park on Thursdays. The headquarters for the Rhode Island Hells Angels is a block away from the other end of our move. A sign on a fence around their place reads "If you trespass here at night you will be found dead here in the morning." It is posted on their cycle garage which is watched over by a Pit Bull. The neighbors to my right appear to be selling drugs. Still, there are families on the street and the rhythm of the day is far calmer than one would imagine. Kids play on the sidewalk and people stroll by. Both areas of this neighborhood are vibrant and occupied by regular people for the most part, many of whom appear to be immigrants. Most middle and upper class whites in this country would avoid this neighborhood like the plague and yet here it is, a viable, blend of humanity living their lives as peaceful as they can but with a wary eye to, not the criminals, but the prospect of the gentrification that is creeping in slowly. Criminals can we dealt with or avoided but white folks with money are impossible to stop. If it continues, something of value will be lost here.

# posted by Rockdoc @ 4:08 PM