So-Hell-Nah
Soha. A Whole Foods opening on 125th and Lenox Av. The amount of non-blacks you see walking down the street every day. Ladies and gentlemen, the "Black Capital" of the world is reluctantly changing colors and not everyone is pleased to hear about it.
First off, Soha? What exactly is a "Soha," it sounds like a Chinatown knockoff of Soho. Harlem is Harlem is Harlem and that's it. Even it's residents are displeased with the potential rezoning and renaming of Harlem. We're residents even asked for their opinions on the matter? More importantly, WHICH residents were polled if any? Is this a result of a lack of community involvement in community initiatives?
Secondly, Whole Foods. This partially concerns my third point about the color of the neighborhood as well. In order to open a new location, Whole Foods polls and does extensive research on the potential new neighborhood to see if they can make a viable profit. Not to mention the preliminary requirements to be met. Once the number they want to see is met, they purchase land and begin construction. Now how exactly do you think EBT will work at Whole Foods? If it works at all? And even if it does, Harlemites would only be able to purchase 8 items before realizing they're getting less for more rather than more bang for their buck. Now I understand wanting to increase the value and desirability of the neighborhood but why not place a Trader Joe's there instead? It's a low-cost, healthy alternative to the incredibly overpriced Whole Foods. Being a full-time working, comfortably living, young African-American woman myself, going to Whole Foods still has to be a planned excursion. Not to mention the fact that what seems "organic" might not always actually be organic. Check the back of that bag of "organic" carrots next time you stop by to stock up on homemade stir-fry ingredients. Moving a grocery store with supposed healthier options into a neighborhood that simply can't afford it is counterproductive. Wanting to improve the health of a neighborhood is different than wanting to increase is marketability. That is unless the real point is to get all the African-Americans out of a historically African-American neighborhood in which case that goal is well on its way to being accomplished.
I don't have a problem with a growing and changing neighborhood. I have a problem with a neighborhood being gentrified and sanitized of its roots, it's color, it's history and background. Is Whole Foods really giving back to the community? Will minorities be hired to work there? Is Soha an attempt to re-brand Harlem completely and make it the new Bed Stuy/Bushwick/Williamsburg?
We as African-Americans need to come together. This post is not about how Black people need to get together and take over the world or get together and create culture (which already happens daily). We need to come together and lift each other up. Support the community. Kids in the 90s used to say, "If you love it so much why don't you marry it?" I'm not suggesting you marry Harlem but act like it means something to you if you really do feel a way about all these changes. Go to work networking within the community, signing petitions, canvassing, getting people to attend community board meetings and functions, getting involved. Show people that they don't have to do much to show they care. It's not even always an issue of money spent, some time spent or even a signature can go a long way.
Go get that voice of yours heard!!
First off, Soha? What exactly is a "Soha," it sounds like a Chinatown knockoff of Soho. Harlem is Harlem is Harlem and that's it. Even it's residents are displeased with the potential rezoning and renaming of Harlem. We're residents even asked for their opinions on the matter? More importantly, WHICH residents were polled if any? Is this a result of a lack of community involvement in community initiatives?
Secondly, Whole Foods. This partially concerns my third point about the color of the neighborhood as well. In order to open a new location, Whole Foods polls and does extensive research on the potential new neighborhood to see if they can make a viable profit. Not to mention the preliminary requirements to be met. Once the number they want to see is met, they purchase land and begin construction. Now how exactly do you think EBT will work at Whole Foods? If it works at all? And even if it does, Harlemites would only be able to purchase 8 items before realizing they're getting less for more rather than more bang for their buck. Now I understand wanting to increase the value and desirability of the neighborhood but why not place a Trader Joe's there instead? It's a low-cost, healthy alternative to the incredibly overpriced Whole Foods. Being a full-time working, comfortably living, young African-American woman myself, going to Whole Foods still has to be a planned excursion. Not to mention the fact that what seems "organic" might not always actually be organic. Check the back of that bag of "organic" carrots next time you stop by to stock up on homemade stir-fry ingredients. Moving a grocery store with supposed healthier options into a neighborhood that simply can't afford it is counterproductive. Wanting to improve the health of a neighborhood is different than wanting to increase is marketability. That is unless the real point is to get all the African-Americans out of a historically African-American neighborhood in which case that goal is well on its way to being accomplished.
I don't have a problem with a growing and changing neighborhood. I have a problem with a neighborhood being gentrified and sanitized of its roots, it's color, it's history and background. Is Whole Foods really giving back to the community? Will minorities be hired to work there? Is Soha an attempt to re-brand Harlem completely and make it the new Bed Stuy/Bushwick/Williamsburg?
We as African-Americans need to come together. This post is not about how Black people need to get together and take over the world or get together and create culture (which already happens daily). We need to come together and lift each other up. Support the community. Kids in the 90s used to say, "If you love it so much why don't you marry it?" I'm not suggesting you marry Harlem but act like it means something to you if you really do feel a way about all these changes. Go to work networking within the community, signing petitions, canvassing, getting people to attend community board meetings and functions, getting involved. Show people that they don't have to do much to show they care. It's not even always an issue of money spent, some time spent or even a signature can go a long way.
Go get that voice of yours heard!!
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| The new neighbor |
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| I feel like this photo really says a lot |
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