The Bronx is a borough in constant transition. With an influx of new immigrants from the Dominican Republic and Ghana as well as transplants from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens priced out of their homes, the faces of New York City’s least explored neighborhoods are changing. Reporters from The Ink asked residents about living with the wide variety of cultures represented in the Bronx–what separates, yet unites everyone from an Italian pizzeria owner, to a Dominican street artist, to a newspaper delivery man from Burkina Faso, and more.
“If you see a Catholic with a beard, you respect him. If you see a criminal with a beard, you respect him. If you see a Muslim with a beard — terrorist.” Vendor Noufal Hesham, 52, says the media can play a role in changing this paradigm. – Katie Ferguson
Michelle Gale recounted two white police officers forcing her on the ground and pressing her head down — all for an unpaid subway fare that Gale says she paid. “I was terrified. There was no one to help me or stop them. I didn’t complain — what’s the point? Complain to whom? We black people — we have no voice, no power. The police know this.” – Muna Habib
Denise Carr is part-Dominican, part-Spanish, part-Haitian, part-African and part-Honduran. The Concourse Village resident calls herself “the United Nations.” – Aria Hangyu Chen
John DelliCarpini has run his pizza shop, John and Joe’s Pizzeria, in Pelham Parkway for 34 years. His customers come from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, which requires him to be flexible with his menu. “Some religions can’t eat pork, some religions can’t eat meat. I gotta take care of both.” – Azadeh Denghan
Food is an integral component of any culture. 51-year-old Yolanda Colon misses authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, particularly her mother’s breakfast options. “America doesn’t have it like we used to. My mother made the best eggs in the world.” – Jihye Lee
Al Lewis resides in University Heights in community housing. He’s been HIV positive since 2001. He goes to meet with his doctor in Manhattan, where he is also working on getting his GED and likes playing chess in Washington Square Park. Asked if he likes living in the Bronx, Mr. Lewis responded with a resounding “No! There are too many Puerto Ricans.” – Tyler Pratt
David Cabillo, 63, is a Mexican immigrant running a flower shop with his wife in the Bronx’s Little Italy. “I like the neighborhood here, but I trust nobody — just my family and myself. I don’t even trust people of my kind, the Mexicans.” – Timmy Hung-Ming Shen
Adrianne Payne, Akelah Geary, and Siiri Rikala are all teachers-in-training from various boroughs. Though none of them are from the Bronx, they come to Hunts Point every day for class and have started to notice the consistent poverty in the neighborhood. Rikala says there are “people of color, but not much difference between who’s living here.” – Laura Thompson
Tessie Marrero, 50, is the director of South Bronx Kids, an organization that uses dance to bring more structure to the lives of local children. The program celebrates diversity by teaching styles from different cultures, ranging from merengue to hip-hop. – Suzie Xie
His name is Raymond Jaquez, but Bronx residents know him as El Gallo Lester. A traveling Dominican artist based in Fordham, he doesn’t condone the racial conflict between Dominicans and Haitians. “I have nothing against Haitians. They are just like us Dominicans. They want to work and live decently.” – Ilgin Yorulmaz
Abu Cisse moved to New York City 15 years ago and currently works in the Bronx as a newspaper distributor. Originally from Burkina Faso, Cisse says moving to New York was a difficult adjustment because of the pace of life. “It took me a while to keep up with everyone here. If you’re lazy, you will not survive. New York is not for the weak. You must be willing to work in order to survive.” – Daniel Rodriguez