yesterday we learned about the gentrification issues that's happening around 5 different API enclaves - Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Chinatown, Thai Town and Historic Pilipinotown. the Little Tokyo tour was very informative - I learned a lot. many times, when i drive or walk through communities, i don't realize the history or even people that had built and continue to build that particular space. yesterday, i was reminded of the importance of paying tribute and honoring our predecessors. these enclaves were home to recent immigrants dating back to the 1900s - it was not simply a pit stop, but much more than that. because of segregation and racial covenants, these women and men built their own community, not necessarily safe-guarded from nationwide racism, but these spaces grew to give our people a greater meaning of home.
today, these API enclaves represent the growing diversity of California. immigrants from all over Latin America, Asia, Southeast Asia reside in these enclaves. this immigrant community, mostly of lower-income, working class backgrounds, is similar to past (and note, current) residents of the API enclaves, in that they come for affordable housing, centralized locations, and a sense of community. the very inspiring leaders of these communities reminded us that in the process of talking about gentrification, it is important to not lose sight of the everyday consequences that determine a person's life. gentrification affects the people's housing, their children, how many jobs they take on, etc.
i'm thankful i learned about the issues, and now i have to ask myself, what can i do?
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YAY YOU! There's this thing that my friends and I call the "race lens" - once you've become aware of people of color issues, suddenly everything in the world is in terms of race relations.
Well, I call your awareness of gentrification the "gentrification lens." hahahaha...or maybe it's something more comprehensive? The class lens?
hmmm something to ponder on.
<3
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