Yonkers resident here. I agree with your sentiment. In fact, lots of east-side residents said they would have no problem with people of color living in their neighborhood if they could get mortgages and afford to buy the homes. However, a big part of the reason east-side Yonkers got itself in this mess is because for half a century local banks and Yonkers real estate companies and private home owners refused to grant mortgages to eligible African-Americans, nor were real estate companies willing to even show east-side homes to potential buyers who were African-American. Private home owners refused to sell to black families. Therefore, even if you were a well-to-do black educated professional (doctor, dentist, business owner, teacher, etc) with the money and good credit to get a qualifying mortgage and buy a house on the east-side, you were only allowed to buy a home on the west side (southwest=bad, northwest=decent, ok). This systemic segregation disallowed black people the right to a better quality of life, liberty, a pursuit of happiness. Therefore the federal government got involved. Since the city had disallowed people of color from buying homes on the east side, they ordered Yonkers to build low income housing on the east side of the city and gave the city council a boatload of money to do. Well, in typical Yonkers fashion (Yonkers is known as the city on the hill where nothing's on the level), they used some of the money to build more low income housing in the southwest section of the city (already predominantly a ghetto), and used the rest of the money for God knows what. Well, you don't take a bunch of money from the federal government, make a promise to do something with it, then break your promise and keep the money...and then expect the Federal government to forget about it. Needless to say, Uncle Sam stepped in and demanded that Yonkers adhere to the court ordered low income housing to be built on the east-side in order to desegregate that side of the city. And hence, that leads us to the point where this show is reporting.
Yes my grandmother had every right to be on the east side, our anscestors paid to built this country sweat blood and tears, 400 years. We deserve our 40 acres and a mule. And since the government has yet to pay us back retributions. We will build what is rightfully ours. A great legacy for our people. Love you all ❤️
They must not be awared of how much America discriminated against them when they crossed Ellis Island. They were considered "undesirables" and were sent back. Watch the history of Ellis island right on RU-vid and the kkk and uncle Sam cartoons discriminating against Italians and other European groups. It's incredible that their ignorance and bigotry hurts a human life that's trying to find a better and safer way to live when they themselves and their ancestors experienced rejection and discrimination! It is true that history repeats itself because people refuse to change!!
This is My grand mother Sadie Jefferson. I am so proud of what she accomplished in Yonkers ,Ny. I plan to carry on the legacy for my people. Much love to all people. No matter who you are, God loves you ❤️
