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Meet Your Neighbors: Episode 3
By Inquisigal | May 6, 2008
Welcome back to “Meet Your Neighbors,†a new feature on the Bed Stuy blog that serves to make the introductions between you, our readers, and other people who live or work in Bedford Stuyvesant.
I had a local meeting to attend last week, and suggested to my cohorts that we pow-wow at Common Grounds, a cafe on fast-changing Tompkins Avenue, as I remembered that they have a huge, beautiful garden in which patrons can relax and enjoy the outdoors. Though there has been a steady group of businesses operating on Tompkins Avenue in the 7 years since I first moved to Bed Stuy in 2001 - the avenue has certainly seen some major changes in the last couple of years. Back when my only food options were Chinese take-out places and pizza, I would never have dreamed of a sleek, modern coffee emporium opening in the immediate neighborhood. Times certainly have changed, yet plenty of faces do indeed remain the same. With that said, ready to meet a new neighbor?
Name: Beresford Crowder
Works: Common Grounds, located on Tompkins Ave., between Putnam and Jefferson Aves.
Age: 25 years old
Born: Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY
Cultural or ethnic heritage: I was born in America, my grandparents are from the Carribbean.
How much do you feel like your cultural or ethnic background defines or influences your identity?: Personally I don’t feel as though my background defines/influences my identity; however, people may be predisposed to look at my background to define habits, behaviors I may/ may not have.
Lives with: I live with my wife and my daughter.
Years lived in Bed Stuy: I lived in Bed Stuy for 22 years, having recently moved to East New York.
Where else have you lived during your lifetime?: I have lived in the Bronx, Queens, and West Virginia.
Renter or home owner: I rent.
Important aspects of your home and the community: Oh wow, that’s a hard one … I guess I’d have to say that most important is facilities for our children to keep them off the streets ( i.e. hobby shops, after school programs, teen centers).
Do you participate in community events?: When possible, I try to participate in community events … I grew up attending most of these events and I’d love to keep them going so that I can take my children to them.
What do you do for a living?: Right now, I am a Barista.
Do you enjoy your work?: I do enjoy my work, believe it or not, it’s a very rewarding existence … most people have forgotten the simple pleasure of making another person smile.
What are some of your favorite hobbies?: Music is one of my main hobbies, though I have neglected it as of late … I’m also into computer repair and web design …
What is your most dreaded household chore?: I hate washing dishes.
What is your favorite household chore?: Sweeping/ Mopping
What is one of your favorite books, movies, or bands/music artists?: Books: The Power Of Now - Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth - Echart Tolle. Movie(s):”Thank You For Smoking,” “The Matrix” series.
On average, how much time do you spend in Manhattan?: Not as much as I used to, mainly because of familial obligations.
What do you like best about living or working in Brooklyn and Bed Stuy?: I’ve always loved living in Brooklyn, especially Bed Stuy, as it has always been foremost in Brooklyn as far as ethnic diversity, ease of transportation, and economic power.
What do you like least?: One thing that I dislike about Bed Stuy is that it’s inhabitants/residents, don’t realize the economic power they hold/held.
What would you change about the neighborhood if you could?: Not really sure what I’d change, but I’m sure it would include facilities geared toward adolescents.
Are there any businesses or services that your part of the neighborhood is lacking?: Hobby shops, resident-owned businesses.
Do you feel like Bedford Stuyvesant is experiencing “gentrificationâ€?: Yes and No. Yes simply because I do see the influx of another race of people, moving in to homes where African Americans once lived for YEARS. I say no, because although people are moving, I don’t think they’re being “Forced out,” though I have seen some rather underhanded tactics to get people to sell.
Based on your own definition of gentrification, what are the positive and negative benefits of gentrification?: One positive I can speculate might come from gentrification is economic renewal for those who are being bought out, especially if they move to an area with a lower cost of living. However, it is quite possible for whole areas to lose cultural traditions that were dependent upon those people staying tightly knit.
Other than your own ethnic or cultural background, what other cultures, or countries, do you have an affinity for and why?: As of late, I have found myself drawn more to other races than my own, … partially due to gentrification of this area. Having been exposed to more races in such a small amount of time, I see that Bed Stuy is not as diverse as it could be.
Are you religious, and if yes, do you attend local worship services?: No, I am not religious, but I do consider my self very spiritual. I do believe in God, just not in the conventional sense of the word “God.” I don’t actively try to convert anyone to my beliefs because my beliefs are rather unconventional and in my opinion, not for everyone.
Would you like to share your thoughts on why you are happier without organized religion?: I am happier without it because, well … I am … it’s hard to explain … I often hear people say I’m gonna give it to God, or why did God put me here, in this situation … and it’s almost like they hand it off to take the load off their own back … in my opinion, people have begun to use God more as a coat rack for their unhappy situations in life, … and less as a source of true Faith … not many people “Give it to God,” and that’s that … they still worry … they hope for more and more out of the situation instead of accepting it for what it is and understanding the order of the things around them …
Is there anything in particular that you would like to say to the neighbors who will
be reading about you?: Peace and love to all … Come to Common Grounds: A Neighborhood Coffee House… feel at home for a while …
Photography by Bed Stuy resident and photographer Rosie McCobb. To see more of Rosie’s work, click here:www.pbase.com/mccobb1969
May 6th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I go to Common Ground a few times a week and he’s so nice! Actually everyone there is really nice. Although I would like them to stop using styrofoam but we always can’t be perfect.
So everyone support Common Ground, this is a great addition to the neighborhood.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
Yeah Common Grounds rocks! I like the waffles.