Discovering Brooklyn: Bedford-Stuyvesant
by 
Welcome back to our monthly series covering all of Brooklyn from Greenpoint to Sea Gate.
According to Francis Morrone and James Iska’s book, An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn, “before the early 1900s, the whole area was known as Bedford. In the early 1900s, the part to the west was known as Bedford while the part to the east became known as Stuyvesant. By the 1960s, the entire area became known by the hyphenated name of Bedford-Stuyvesant.”
Bedford-Stuyvesant sits in North-Central Brooklyn and geographically has Williamsburg above it, Bushwick to its right, Clinton Hill to its left and below it is the neighborhood of Crown Heights. According to City-Data.com, the population of Bedford- Stuyvesant is currently 157,530 with the majority of its population, African-American.
One of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, (handsome too) Duke Ellington, urged Americans in his signature song to, “Take The A Train.” It was the anthem back then. In the 1930s and 1940s, the “A” train transported Brooklynites to the sweetest spot in the world, Sugar Hill – uptown in Harlem. By the 1950s, Brooklyn was the go to place for hipsters. There was The Baby Grand (1274 Fulton St.), Brevoort Theater (1272 Bedford Ave.), 521 Club (1134 Fulton St.), Turbo Village (Halsey St. and Reid Ave. – renamed Malcolm X Blvd.), and The Blue Coronet (1200 Fulton St) where jazz greats, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Thelonious Monk, Hugh Masakela, Abbey Lincoln, and Etta Jones (not to be confused with singer Etta James) preformed.
Bedford-Stuyvesant is more diverse now. It looks and feels very differently from the jazzy 1950s and 1960s. But Bed-Stuy is still what’s up! So take the “A” train today and jump off at Nostrand Avenue and Fulton Street. The Nostrand Avenue subway stop in Brooklyn is a great place to start your discovery of this beautiful and bustling neighborhood.
Walk down Fulton Street to New York Avenue and visit Restoration Plaza; the home of the first non-profit community development corporation in the USA. Visit the local businesses there or see a show at the Billie Holiday Theater, named in honor of the legendary jazz singer of the 20th century.
Bedford-Stuyvesant is one of New York’s oldest free African-American communities. Many fled the oppressiveness of the rural south to the urban north looking for land, equality and opportunity. In the generations to follow they built strong communities, bought property, established businesses, and made Bed-Stuy home.
There’s definitely something special about Bed-Stuy’s waters; several celebrities were either born here, raised here or made this neighborhood home: Lena Horne, Jackie Robinson, Shirley Chisholm, Earl Graves, Barbara Streisand, Michael Jordan, Kadeem Hardison, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, ODB, Big Daddy Kane, Jay Z, Biggie Smalls, Mos Def, Lil’ Kim, Fabolous, Aaliyah and Gabourey Sidibe – just to name a few.
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“Most people would agree that the brownstones and small apartment buildings nestled in the southwest corner of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, are for the most part drop-dead gorgeous,” says Constance Rosenblum in her New York Times article written back in February. Take a walk and experience this community: see stately homes, yards with planters, beautiful greenery and exquisitely tree lined blocks.
While in Bed-Stuy schedule a tour of the 17th Century Landmark, Akwaaba Mansion Bed & Breakfast at 347 MacDonough Street.
Go browsing, get expert advice, or purchase a potted plant next door at 358 Stuyvesant Avenue in Seasons: A Neighborhood Nursery & Garden Center.
While in the “Cities of Churches” visit Bridge Street African Methodist Episcopal Church at 277 Stuyvesant Avenue; Brooklyn’s first African American church.
Walk down Stuyvesant to Lexington Avenue then over to Patchen and visit St. John Bread and Life. This organization’s mission is to bring food and assistance to the poor and accompany them on their journey to wholeness by providing necessary services. Patrick Wong says, “volunteering my time (with St. John) to help others in my community is one of the best things I could ever do. It is an amazing organization with wonderful people and we provide numerous necessary services.”
Before leaving Bedford-Stuyvesant, plan on having a bite (or two) to eat. There is such a variety of fantastic food places here making a choice, will be very difficult. This interesting predicament only means one thing; you must come back this way again.
Check us out next month in Clinton Hill.
WRITTEN BY JUDITH C. LOVELL
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @CRYSTALPARRIS
