Julie just mentioned something in a comment that I’ve meant to write about before. It’s still amazing to me how much the people I’ve met here define themselves by their neighborhood. I know it’s likely because there are so many people crammed into such a small space. But it still boggles the mind to observe how charged with meaning every street crossing is. And the East Bay-West Bay thing! Good Lord. I have no problem hopping on BART to travel into the city, but it seems like many of the city people I’ve met are loathe to do the reverse. And when I ask how often they make it to the East Bay, it’s like I’ve just asked them how often they visit Antarctica. Like, what could there possibly be there for me to see? Umm, lots people.
Oh, and good God, don’t get me started on people who, when they hear I live in Oakland, give me this troubled look that says, “scary. bad. why?” And then, in case that doesn’t drive it home, I’ve gotten several, “You be careful!” and “Are you safe there?” and “Do you carry mace?” Jesus H, people. You act like I’m every minute on the verge of getting jacked. In reality, I feel like I fit in far better in the East Bay than the city anyway. For whatever my level of over-education, I grew up working class. I also make a pretty modest living and have at least a decade worth of student loan debt to pay off. Plus, I work on issues of poverty and homelessness and domestic violence. If there’s any place I belong in this area, it’s here. Right where I am.
Oh, I just remembered this: How Berkeley. A word: if your idea of someone taking up too much parking space is friggin Berkeley, then you probably need to get out of the city more. Try Texas.
5 Comments
August 22, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I can relate – I live near the West End area, in a “transitional” neighborhood. Since the market crash, it hasn’t improved for obvious socio-economic reasons. But I still enjoy where I live. I have a few friends who live around there, too. It’s always colorful, it has a lot of character to it. WHen people ask why I left my nice, froo-froo Decatur condo for Southside ATL with distaste, I just want to throw something at them. It’s attitudes like that, that perpetuate classism and ableism (and all those other isms). Grr!
August 24, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Yeah, I can totally see that. The West End is such a great area, although that whole retail district thing gives me pause. Please tell me you visit West Egg (grasshopper cupcakes!) and Octane on occasion. That way I can live vicariously through you…
August 29, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Oh, I’ve heard about West Egg, but I haven’t gone – I checked out their menu and I can’t eat most of it (gluten and dairy). But Octane, yes, I go there when I feel the need to get out of the house to do some work!
August 30, 2008 at 12:20 am
Ooh, dang, yeah I forgot about that. Well, at least you get to partake of Octane. I love that space.
December 31, 2008 at 9:00 pm
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