Andrew Neria, Period 1, 2/27/2024

Robert moses

redlining in the bronx

non bus to prevent low class

oppressive infrastructure/government since old


Our lesson on March 5th included the analysis something as simple as traffic. Using context from prior knowledge and other pieces of literature we’ve read in other English courses, we were able to recognize oppressive sentiment built into systems such as car-based infrastructure. It was astonishing to think about; even something as straight-cut and mathematical as urban planning could underscore maliciousness towards minorities living in our city.

We learned about redlining, a practice that flagged certain areas of New York as “high-risk” and others as “desirable.” This practice led to the severe under-funding of minority communities, leading to a steep divide in family income, education, and general life expectancy. I drew back on my prior knowledge of the Cross Bronx Expressway. Built between 1948 and 1972, the Cross Bronx Expressway was a structure that contributed immensely to the disparity between minorities in New York today. The widespread poverty was one of the worst instances if urban decay in NY history. The highway ran through entire city blocks of residential areas and businesses alike. This displaced over 60,000 people across the Bronx, leading to more intense redlining, densely populated areas, and a plethora of other long-lasting and negative effects.

Once bustling city sidewalks became ghost towns. Phrases like “The Bronx is burning” referenced the rampant cases of mass arson due tot he total economic collapse of the Bronx. Today, the Bronx, specifically South Bronx, is cited as one of the most dangerous places in NYC. The dense culture of the Bronx was smothered by roadway pollution and congestion, with statistically significant evidence that children who grow up in the Bronx are predisposed to respiratory ailments such as asthma.

The circumstances that Grendel was born into created the monster that he becomes later in the story. Although they were out of his control, his situation led him to become a deeply flawed individual. Grendel sought to replace his intense alienation with acts of evil and self-satisfaction. This cycle of violence and angst has been perpetuated time and time again in minority communities across New York. It’s easy to look down on the minorities who live in these areas, to avoid investing or just travelling through these neighborhoods. It’s hard to recognize the years of oppression built into every day life, the harmful lingering effects it left on the livelihoods of New Yorkers across the boroughs. And it’s even harder to begin rectifying these wrongdoings. Understanding the human condition through literature helps to develop compassion for those that live in our own communities: the same compassion that was missing in the development of our cities and systems years before us.


Informal cites sourced (for personal use, don’t include in the blog)

Bronx then and now: https://youtu.be/D3dyHrXo0Cc?si=XKGlbfQ9fUNuDk9_

Why CBE is always congested: https://youtu.be/7geuAFVjNOE?si=ZyLG3hhxcgauRnLv

History of the bronx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWFYeKKpBp4&list=TLPQMDcwMzIwMjRlkEoAfbkv0A&index=1