Describe The Differences Between The Bronx And Manhattan In The 1970's

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here are stark differences between the Bronx and Manhattan in the 1970s. People living in the Bronx faced very poor environmental and socioeconomic conditions. For example, the South Bronx was described as “a spectacular set of ruins, a mythical wasteland, an infectious disease.” (Chang, 2005, p. 32). This shows the unsafe environmental conditions that Black and Brown people in the Bronx had to deal with. It makes sense that poor environmental conditions lead to poor health conditions like a disease. There were also “hills of rubble, decorated with ripped-open bags of rotting garbage” (Chang, 2005, p. 23). People in the South Bronx were forced to live in unclean trash-filled conditions. It makes sense that conditions did not improve because …show more content…

Since Blacks could not get into clubs, they had to create their own party culture. Firstly, DJ Kool Herc “laid the first building block of hip-hop” when he hosted a party for his sister Cindy at “520 Sedgwick Avenue with a sound system” that utilized “a guitar amp and two turntables” (Swanson, 2010). This was a pivotal point in time as it is known as the birthplace of hip-hop. More block parties resulted, which created a fun way to pass the time, similar to Manhattan. Techniques like breakbeats, scratching, cutting, and backspacing was formed by influential hip-hop figures like Herc, Grand Wizzard Theodore, and Grandmaster Flash (Swanson, 2010). All of these techniques are fundamental parts of hip-hop. As the years progressed, more elements contributed to hip-hop. Hip-hop formed as a result of the harsh and tiring conditions of the South Bronx. This new movement combatted “the violence...and the negativity that come out of gang cultures” (Swanson, 2010). This makes sense because the people living in the South Bronx had to live through such harsh conditions and needed a break from this stressful life. This cultural revolution is now a part of everyday life in today’s society. Many famous hip-hop artists like Drake, Jay Z, Eminem, and Nicki Minaj are frequently played on the radio and loved by many. Hip-hop has evolved throughout the years and continues to change. While people continue to enjoy this art form, it is essential to know how hip-hop

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