1. New York City in the 80’s/90s Racial and Ethnic Conflict

2. Crime in the 1990s Crimes: In 1990, there were two thousand two hundred and forty-five murders in New York. This year, there are likely to be fewer than four hundred. The New Yorker, 11/2012

3. Crime and Drugs in the ‘80s/early 90s The mid- to late 1980s witnessed a rapid increase in the use of crack cocaine (Johnson, Golub, & Dunlap, 2006; Johnson, Golub, & Fagan, 1995). High demand for it and competition for lucrative areas resulted in turf wars. Guns were acquired by drug dealers and then diffused through the community for self-protection, which led to an increase in gun-related crimes. As demand for crack decreased, and drug markets began moving off the streets into private spaces, crime began to decline (Blumstein, 1995a; Wendel & Curtis, 2000).

4. Bias Crimes Crimes that involve interracial violence or threats of violence : 550 cases in 1988, 527 in 1990, and 540 in 1991

5. Ethnic/Racial Conflicts NYC In the late 1980s and early 1990s New York City became a symbol of racial tension and violence for the nation. Howard Beach. White/Trinidad. Giffiths 1986. a mob of whites attacked black boys for being black and on a public street in an all-white neighborhood. This brought about immediate widespread attention. The crime was generally condemned, leading to demands for quick action by the police, the mayor, and black leaders.

6. Ethnic/Racial Conflicts NYC Bensonhurst An African-American youth, Yusef Hawkins, was killed by a gang of whites, apparently because they thought he and his friends were coming to visit a neighborhood girl. 1989 Canarsie Fire bombings Tensions resulting from newcomers (blacks) moving into a traditionally white neighborhood resulted in the firebombings of a real estate agency in Canarsie 1989 Flatbush, Haitian/ Korean dispute resulting in a major political incident and a boycott of Asian grocery stores by blacks, firebombings etc. 1989

7. Ethnic/Racial Conflicts NYC Crowne Heights Orthodox Jewish driver killed Carribean child, Gavin Cato, resulting in raised tensions between Jews and Carribeans, the stabbing of a Jew Yankel Rosenbaum in retaliation, and several nights of rioting. Black and Jewish leaders became involved. 1991 Washington Hts Police/Dominican. Irish police officer, Michael OíKeefe, shot and killed a Dominican immigrant, Jose ìKikoî Garcia, on the claim that he was carrying a concealed weapon. The case touched off riots and exposed a hidden conflict between the Hispanic immigrants and remaining White population of the area. 1992

8. Film/Drama Representations of ‘90s Racial/Ethnic Turmoil Fires in the Mirror. Documentary drama. Anna Deveare-Smith ‘91: One-woman portrayal of Crowne Heights Riots using inaterviews of Orthodox Jews and and Carribean blacks following deaths of Gcato, Y. Rosenbaum Do The Right Thing. Film. Spike Lee. Fictional representation Bensonhurst Black/White racial conflict

9. Musial Representation of Conflict Various Artists reflecting times and writing, among other things, about the fact that kids had automatic weapons and crack was turning girls into crack hos and undermining the police in those cities as well, turning cops corrupt.