Interviews with the locals of Crown Heights
From Decoding New York
1. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
Yes, I live in the neighborhood. Sure, I like it.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
I see mostly Jewish people, Hasidic Jews.
Where were you born?
Israel
How many years are you here?
23
How do you feel about immigration?
Without it I wouldn’t be here, so I’m glad for it.
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
I’m a citizen.
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
New York is great, very busy but I’m used to it.
Do you feel Americanized?
No.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Absolutely.
Has Crown Heights changed since you first moved here?
No not really, basically the same.
2. What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
A big Jewish ratio.
Where were you born?
Israel
How many years are you here?
10
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
Yes, I’m a citizen.
Do you feel Americanized?
Half and Half.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
It’s very important.
Has Crown Heights changed since you first moved here?
It’s the same.
3. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
Yes I live here.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
I don’t know, there’s a mixture of ethnicities.
Where were you born?
Canada
How many years are you here?
30 years
How do you feel about immigration?
It’s important for a better life, there’s no other way sometimes.
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
I like New York, but I came here mostly for the children, to give the children a better life.
Do you feel Americanized?
Yes, I have no choice.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Very important, it is.
Has Crown Heights changed since you first moved here?
Yes, it has its ups and downs, it fluctuates.
4. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
I like it here.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
Jewish and Hispanic people mostly.
Where were you born?
Israel
How many years are you here?
7
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
Yes, I’m a citizen.
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
I do, somewhat.
Do you feel Americanized?
Absolutely not.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Yes, it definitely is. If you don’t you’ll never know the importance of where you came from.
Has Crown Heights changed since you first moved here?
There is a lot less modesty on the streets…because people get Americanized.
5. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
I live here, yes.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
Caribbean people.
Where were you born?
Trinidad
How many years are you here?
A few.
How do you feel about immigration?
They should improve the laws, lots of Caribbean people who want to be here.
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
I’m not a citizen I don’t know if I’ll become one.
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
I like it, I have no regrets for coming here.
Do you feel Americanized?
No
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Yes, very important.
6. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
I don’t live here, but I work here and it’s a normal neighborhood.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
Caribbeans, Hispanics, Jews.
Where were you born?
Grenada
How many years are you here?
11
How do you feel about immigration?
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
I’m not a citizen yet.
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
I like it but I mostly stay in my own space. I do anything for my daughter’s best interests so I get involved to get her involved.
Do you feel Americanized?
Not really, my daughter probably is more than me.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Yes it is. I always go back home and come back here with my daughter so she could see where we came from. It’s most important that she knows the roots to feel connected.
7. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
Yes I live here.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
Lots of Jewish and Spanish people.
Where were you born?
In the Dominican Republic.
How many years are you here?
Going to be 9 years soon.
How do you feel about immigration?
It got me here, so I’m grateful for it.
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
Yes, I’m a citizen.
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
New York is very alive and I always travel and find something new. Always something new.
Do you feel Americanized?
Not really, I’m trying. America isn’t very worm to me and my family.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Yes, my family will never let go of our roots.
8. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
Yes, it’s fine living in this neighborhood, better than many other ones in New York.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
A lot of Hispanic people, and there are Jewish peoples too.
Where were you born?
Dominican Republican
How many years are you here?
13
How do you feel about immigration?
I feel fine, I don’t really know about the laws.
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
I’m a citizen.
Do you feel Americanized?
No, I stay away from American culture, it’s too different for me.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Yes, I live with my roots.
Has Crown Heights changed since you first moved here?
Not really, I haven’t lived here too long, only a few years.
9. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
I live here and I like the community.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
Well on these streets, mostly Jewish people, and also a lot of Spanish.
Where were you born?
Israel
How many years are you here?
Over 20, going to be 21 years soon.
How do you feel about immigration?
Immigration brought my family here, but a lot has changed since I moved here.
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
Yes, I’ve been a citizen for long time.
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
I love New York, I’ve lived in other states but New York tops them all.
Do you feel Americanized?
I try to because my children want what they see on TV and we try to make the best of both worlds.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Yes, especially being Jewish.
Has Crown Heights changed since you first moved here?
No not really, I haven’t seen any changes.
10. Do you live here, what do you think about it here, and do you like it?
I like the neighborhood, it’s very quiet sometimes.
What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
A lot of Caribbeans.
Where were you born?
Dominican Republic
How many years are you here?
6
How do you feel about immigration?
I want it to change, I still have family who wants to come here.
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
Not yet, soon.
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
New York is great. I never have trouble finding a job.
Do you feel Americanized?
No. Definitely not.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Yes, I go back home all the time.
11. What population do you see in Crown Heights and which nationalities and ethnicities?
Lots of different people, but my whole block speaks Spanish, it makes socializing easy.
Where were you born?
Grenada
How many years are you here?
11
How do you feel about immigration?
I really don’t watch the news so I can’t say.
Are you a citizen or do you intend to become one?
Yes, I’m a proud citizen.
How do you feel about New York and do you enjoy it?
Some parts of New York feel like home, lots of food and noisy.
Do you feel Americanized?
Not really.
Do you think it’s important to preserve your roots/culture?
Yes, I think lots of immigrants feel this way.
Has Crown Heights changed since you first moved here?
Not really, I don’t see changes.
