CROWN HEIGHTS IS a fascinating New York City community.
It’s a place in Brooklyn where many key Bajans have lived, assembled to discuss pressing issues, studied for university degrees, taught at public schools and colleges, planned cricket or soccer games, held social functions, danced the night away or even played road tennis.
It’s a district where some single-family homes are valued at between US$800 000 to US$2 million and where thousands of Bajans and other West Indians have owned elegant properties for decades next door to Jews, African-Americans, Italians, Hispanics and others; eat at Culpepper’s Bajan Restaurant; worshipped at St Mark’s or St Gabriel’s Episcopal Churches; or in recent times attended sessions with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Opposition Leader Mia Mottley.
Just last week, New Yorkers, especially Crown Heights residents, spent time reflecting on what happened there 25 years ago. It was on August 19, 1991 that a tragic automobile accident at Utica Avenue and President Street caused the death of a seven-year-old West Indian child, Gavin Cato, and it triggered a deadly disturbance that also cost a Jewish rabbinical scholar his life from stab wounds. For three days, tempers flared; Jewish and black youths fought each other, and the police had a tough time returning the area to a sense of normalcy. In the end, it contributed to the election defeat of David Dinkins, the city’s black mayor who was unfairly accused mainly by Jews of not doing enough to end the conflict.
Understandably, Blacks became angry when a Jewish ambulance arrived at the scene of the accident, left two injured black children bleeding on the sidewalk but took away the unhurt Jewish driver of the vehicle responsible for the tragedy and Cato’s death. They were also upset that the police had escorted the Jewish Grand Rebbe Menachem Schneerson to visit his wife’s grave, an indication of special treatment while Blacks were often ignored. On the other hand, Jews felt black youths were not being held accountable for their behaviour.
“Things have not been the same since then,” said a black resident of Barbadian and Panamanian ancestry who has lived there for 50 years.
Leroy Hutchinson, a Bajan and a retired New York City police officer, said there was some “despair” within the black community and although “tranquility and peace” have returned since 1991 there “is still a lot of distrust in the community”.
“We see a lot of enclaves in Crown Heights today as people tend to stay among themselves and that’s not good,” said the Barbadian who immediately after the disturbances met with Blacks and Jews to reunite them.
US Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, who represents Crown Heights in the House of Representatives in Washington, sees much improvement since the tragedy but readily admits more must be done.
Denis Yarde, President of the Barbados Ex-Police Association who once lived in Crown Heights, said gentrification had resulted in an increased police presence and better security.
“I want to believe people have put much of the 1991 incident and its after-effects behind them,” said Yarde. “Overall, we have very good relations with the community. Some people meet you on the street and greet you. There has been a marked improvement.”
Tony Best is the NATION’s North American Correspondent. Email: Bestra@aol.com