The process of gentrification is hard and complex, and This Side of Franklin will not fully explain, condone, condemn or change it. But through telling the stories of the people that have allowed me to become a part of their neighborhood, I hope to use this space to say "thank you" to them: for cultivating such a great community, long before I had ever even heard of it, and for allowing me to be a part of it when I moved. I hope this blog will serve as a kind of homage to them--the long-standing residents, my awesome neighbors--through personal essay. For me, I hope it will help lock in my mind some of the moments and people I've encountered here, the details that I hope to never forget. And for those who have never heard of or been to Crown Heights, I hope this will serve as a glimpse into the stories of the people that are often quieted as they are pushed aside from their neighborhoods, the stories of the people on the other side of gentrification.
This is a great idea. Thanks
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