My first thought when defining the Atlantic was the struggle of the Middle Passage. I could not think past the slave narratives and the history lessons of the cane and tobacco traded for people. The standard history is rooted in pain and robbery. There were moments of creativity, however, they were dulled by the dehumanization of people forced into chattel slavery. The Black and Green Atlantic serves to take a closer look at that narrative; to remove the deficit-based thinking and uncover the ways in which struggles and pain have brought flourishing. In separation comes combination, and new pockets of existence come to be. The Irish, deprived of food, and caught in political turmoil needed to find sanctuary and a future. Black people on the other hand were deprived of citizenship, culture, family, and identity. Their ostracization in society placed them in some proximity to each other.
I have lived in New York my whole life, yet I did not know the history of Seneca Village or Five Points. Both no longer exist in the city. My New York is an immigrant city full of culture, compacted by songs, and moved by dance. Theo would agree as she walks the streets, independent at her young age, that everything and nothing shows. Theo is outfitted with both her Irish and Black heritage. She is able to identify the different aspects between her Irish family and her Black family. The cultures also intermingle in the streets. Queens is now a center for immigrants as well with many first-generation Americans who come from multi-ethnic backgrounds. These neighborhoods are underdeveloped compared to the gentrified parts of the city yet they are representative of the snapshots of various home countries. The neighborhoods are the final memories of a time that no longer exists in a country mostly forgotten. Soon, those pieces will merge and become distinctive parts of American culture, hailing immigrant backgrounds.
I see this a lot in Chicago too. In a lot of ways, Chicago is considered the “New York of the Midwest” (to my despise if we’re being honest…Chicago > New York lol) because of a lot of the reasons that you said, it was a city that was very welcoming to immigrants. A lot of neighborhoods that are full of POC are now being gentrified to “clean up the image of the city”, which we all know what that means! It is sad to see Black people on the South side get pushed out for university housing or other urban projects, which is washing away the final memories of these bustling neighborhoods like you see in New York.
I agree with your point that the struggle and pain of the Atlantic have created a flourishing culture amid the intermingling of different backgrounds. It is incredible to see the way that different cultures have come together in not only New York City, but all across the country, to form a unique and vibrant melting pot. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and how even in the face of adversity we can create something beautiful. However, at times it feels like some people are singled out and are not fully accepted, or at least treated, like a fellow American should be.