ETHNOGRAPHY OF THE CITY
Blackouts
By: Quaylan Barker
Background and Crime
Blackouts in New York City are memorable historical events, that make people who live through the blackout feel that they belong to the city in a deeply authentic way. The New York City blackout of 1977 was an electricity blackout that affected most of New York City on July 13–14, 1977. During New York's 2003 blackout, The New York Times ran a description of the blackout of 1977: Because of the power failure, LaGuardia and Kennedy airports were closed down for about eight hours, automobile tunnels were closed because of lack of ventilation, and 4,000 people had to be evacuated from the subway system. ConEd called the shutdown an "act of God", enraging Mayor Beame, who charged that the utility was guilty of "gross negligence." - Martin; Glanz, James
In James Goodman's book: Blackout, the author discusses what to expect in blackout (specifically in New York City), "The 1977 blackout was limited to the five boroughs and some northern suburbs, a few hundred square miles inhabited by 25 percent of those thirty million people. That night there was no moon, and an oppressive mas of hot air had just drifted into the metropolitan area. Meteorologist said the heat was there to stay. In 1977, as in 1965, there was excitement, adventure, and fright in skyscrapers and subway tunnels, nightclubs, etc. There was revelry in bars and restaurants, music and dancing in streets. People displayed tremendous reserves of kindness, generosity, patience, and good humor. On just about every block in a city of thousands of blocks, some man or woman, boy or girl, proved himself or herself a hero. Strangers not only talked to strangers, they did whatever they could do to help them through the night. For people who have never been to a big city during a blackout, it is a difficult night to imagine." I can those who live more in a suburban are or on the country side being use to it, because they don't live in a major city like NYC where the lights are always on. Reading about people getting along and helping each other out during these times, are always a great and hopeful feeling, but of course where there is good, bad isn't too far behind. During blackouts, crime rates go up, and some people take advantage of the situation. July 13, 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of the "Great New York Energy Crisis of 1977," when a 24-hour power outage made most of New York City go dark and caused a crime wave. During this outage, residents went without water or electricity for a two-night, 24-hour period. A thunderstorm triggered a Con Edison system malfunction, which caused the blackout. According to Eyewitness News's 1977 coverage of the event, the NYPD arrested more than 3,000 people for looting and disorderly conduct. More than 850 fires burned through the city, and 150 state troopers were called in to patrol the highways. "As for the looters, vandals and arsonists, it was Christmas in July, a fiesta, a carnival, a holiday," former Eyewitness News Reporter Milton Lewis said about the outage. "They especially enjoyed throwing eggs at me and my crew." A looter even tried to sell stolen jewelry to an Eyewitness News reporter on air. Amid the pandemonium, six inmates escaped from Rikers Island prison. Former New York City Mayor Abraham "Abe" Beame called the cause of the outage "gross negligence," but Con Edison claimed that it was an extremely unlikely "act of god" scenario. Beame asked religious leaders to ride with police officers during patrols to try to appeal to their communities. (By Alexa Friedman) |
1977 Blackout and Hip-Hop
On the night of July 13, 1977, an act of nature started to change that. Lightning struck multiple power generators, causing the backups and diversion plants to overload. A financially-stricken city, already on edge during the Summer of Sam, reached a breaking point. By about 9:30, the majority of NYC went dark and parts turned chaotic. Around 16,000 stores were looted, and more than 1,000 fires were set, according to contemporaneous reports. The total cost of the damage was estimated to be more than $300 million.
“There was a large amount of DJs after that because equipment became more accessible,” he says. “That’s not to say that they went on to become superstars or anything like that. A lot of that equipment got sold or stolen. But it did increase the number of people who had access to DJ equipment.”
An altruistic “sharing economy” also existed at the time, author and hip-hop scholar Joe Schloss says, that got turntables, mixers and speakers into the hands of those who would use them. And with DJs working in crews, very often they’d be able to cobble together a full sound system among themselves.
“People already had this kind of infrastructure in place to maximize the resources,” he says. “Even if not that many people got equipment from the blackout, whatever they did get could have been that much more of a tipping point than it might seem.” “So much of hip-hop is about not playing by the rules of the rest of society,” Schloss says. “And part of justifying that is saying, ‘If we’re not going to be treated fairly under those rules, what do we owe them? Why shouldn’t we come up with our own system?’” ( By: Robert Spuhler)
New York had experienced blackouts before—there was a major outage in 1965 during which New Yorkers stayed mostly calm—but in 1977 the city experienced widespread looting. “It was chaos that night,” says Caz. “And it was exciting afterwards. But while it was going on, it was scary.” But Caz also believes that the 1977 blackout may have accelerated the growing hip-hop movement, which was just beginning to put down roots in the Bronx. His theory: The looting that occurred during the blackout enabled people who couldn’t afford turntables and mixers to become DJs. Caz admits that he himself stole new equipment that night. “I went right to the place where I bought my first set of DJ equipment, and I went and got me a mixer out of there.” He continues, “After the blackout, all this new wealth … was found by people and they just—opportunity sprang from that. And you could see the differences before the blackout and after.” Caz’s theory—that the hip-hop movement was catalyzed by the 1977 blackout—can’t really be confirmed. Joe Schloss, the hip-hop researcher from City University, buys it, with a caveat. “I think it’s true, but I think it’s also important to keep in mind that basically, hip-hop history is an oral history at this point, and that it’s all mythology in some sense—the true stories as well as the false stories.” (By: Delaney Hall)
“There was a large amount of DJs after that because equipment became more accessible,” he says. “That’s not to say that they went on to become superstars or anything like that. A lot of that equipment got sold or stolen. But it did increase the number of people who had access to DJ equipment.”
An altruistic “sharing economy” also existed at the time, author and hip-hop scholar Joe Schloss says, that got turntables, mixers and speakers into the hands of those who would use them. And with DJs working in crews, very often they’d be able to cobble together a full sound system among themselves.
“People already had this kind of infrastructure in place to maximize the resources,” he says. “Even if not that many people got equipment from the blackout, whatever they did get could have been that much more of a tipping point than it might seem.” “So much of hip-hop is about not playing by the rules of the rest of society,” Schloss says. “And part of justifying that is saying, ‘If we’re not going to be treated fairly under those rules, what do we owe them? Why shouldn’t we come up with our own system?’” ( By: Robert Spuhler)
New York had experienced blackouts before—there was a major outage in 1965 during which New Yorkers stayed mostly calm—but in 1977 the city experienced widespread looting. “It was chaos that night,” says Caz. “And it was exciting afterwards. But while it was going on, it was scary.” But Caz also believes that the 1977 blackout may have accelerated the growing hip-hop movement, which was just beginning to put down roots in the Bronx. His theory: The looting that occurred during the blackout enabled people who couldn’t afford turntables and mixers to become DJs. Caz admits that he himself stole new equipment that night. “I went right to the place where I bought my first set of DJ equipment, and I went and got me a mixer out of there.” He continues, “After the blackout, all this new wealth … was found by people and they just—opportunity sprang from that. And you could see the differences before the blackout and after.” Caz’s theory—that the hip-hop movement was catalyzed by the 1977 blackout—can’t really be confirmed. Joe Schloss, the hip-hop researcher from City University, buys it, with a caveat. “I think it’s true, but I think it’s also important to keep in mind that basically, hip-hop history is an oral history at this point, and that it’s all mythology in some sense—the true stories as well as the false stories.” (By: Delaney Hall)
Personal Experiences of Blackouts
Blackout Of 1977: 34 Years Ago — A Sheepshead Bay Remembrance
By: Erica Sherman |
"Ask my dad, however, and he’ll gladly regale you with his own “famous” Sheepshead Bay ’77 Blackout story. I was 19 months old and we were living on Brown Street between Avenues Z and Voorhies. My parents were across the street, at the house of their best friends on the block, a couple with three children, the youngest of whom, a boy, was my own age, or thereabout. Perhaps because it was a simpler time, or there was some other reasonable explanation, but my dad was barefoot that day. That’s just the way he rolled in the ’70s. So, we’re hanging out in the evening (I’m told, because I don’t remember any of this), and *poof* — all of a sudden, everything goes dark. I don’t know how much time had elapsed, but in his quest to determine what was going on, or perhaps to check on my mom, who may well have been in our house across the street, he got up, took me in his arms, and proceeded to walk across the street. Now, in a city blanketed in complete darkness, both from the combination of it being nighttime, and there being no lights, my dad couldn’t see where he was going very well. Sure, he knew his way back to the house, just across the street, but he was also probably hoping that there were no jagged shards of glass littering his path. Finally nearing the other side of the street, probably with as great a sense of relief as the ancient Hebrews felt when they safely reached the other side of the Red Sea, my dad, inexplicably, felt something warm and soft squish between his toes."
Hurricane Sandy Blackout
By: Quaylan Barker
By: Quaylan Barker
It was hurricane season around the fall time, and New York was severely affected by Hurricane Sandy on October, 29th 2012. I remember how cold and windy it was, there was strong headwinds, powerful gust, and heavy rain. At the time, Mayor Bloomberg didn't want President Obama to visit those victims effected by it the most, but Bloomberg wanted to keep the New York Marathon going for the profit from the race but was forced to shut it down with the scales of the hurricane (should have been shut down even if it was a low category scale). October was a interesting month, and NYC has been preparing for it, stores was empty in terms of items and goods such as: groceries, flashlights, batteries, blankets, and other goods. I was happy to be home, there was no school, no work so the whole family was home, and plus, I liked the rainy dark weather. Most might call it a "sad and depressed" setting or weather, but for me, it's perfect sleeping weather. The only part that kept me on edge was the big tree and my backyard that was tilted at a angle, and the wind was fierce; cutting through trees, shattering glass, some houses were destroyed. These tend to be things with an unstable foundation, but those that were deeply rooted to the ground like trees, was scary. It was my first blackout as a teenager and in the fall season. I remembered my first blackout was in the summer time when I was a little kid, but it was different because we can just go outside, sit on the steps or go in the backyard, get a portable lamp and play cards, but Sandy was different, besides it being a being at a different time and there being a blackout, it was hurricane that even cause it. So there was no warm weather or going outside because of the rain and wind. The worse part is how long the power was off. It had to be about 3-5 days the most in my neighborhood; there was other areas that had generators or the power turn instantly back on, (like most of Manhattan, some areas in the Bronx like Castle Hill area) but my block was different since we was without power the longest. I think eventually the rest of Baychester area had it turned back on, but my block specifically was the slowest. It killed me mentally because I relied so much on technology and I couldn't charge my phone, watch TV, use the computer. I was really bored and cold, there was no heat so we had to make heat. My mom had boiled water to steam on all burners of the stove and she turned the oven on to produce more heat. Thankfully the stove we had was a gas stove instead of an electric one. My whole experience is appreciating the thing that people daily take for granted, like having no electricity, no heat in the house during the fall and winter. I was glad for having a week off from school because how Hurricane Sandy left everything, (including the MTA's train and bus systems), but I was also grateful for the time I had spent together with my family, without the use of technology. Just good ol' fashion board games, playing cards, and telling stories - things that needs to be brought back to modern families.
Food, Water & Essentials
During a blackout, food is one of the last things to worry about, not to get food and water confused with being one of the first things to prepare for in case of emergencies, as well as food and water being important. When the news announces that a bad storm will pass through, people usually go out shopping in stores to get the essentials, such as non- perishable foods, bottled water packs, batteries, lantern, matches, flash lights, and more. When the rain and wind is fierce outside, most people tend to be on edge or observant during a blackout or event during a hurricane such as Sandy. When the power was out, one of the things that most people did was look outside their windows to see how bad the storm was (even those fortunate to still have power observed outside). But, it is also good to not panic, stay safe, make sure you have your essential survival items or kit with you, and don't forget to eat as well. Something to give us energy because some of us might be busy working too hard to get the house in order and we forget to eat something, or even a snack: trail mix, any fresh fruits that are close by, maybe some crackers, chips, a granola bar, sandwiches, or other prepared food items. Water is important as well, in any event where the water system is tainted or isn't working then, it's important to have bottled water for consumption, a bucket or some sort of container to use to wash your face, or help the toilet flush. The stores are sold out almost in a event before or during a blackout (almost always for a hurricane or bad storm that has the possibility of knocking out power). First Aid kits are important to have as well, duct tape, to temporarily fix and broken areas, sleeping bags, towels, tissues, and just anything you can think of, making a list and/or always having a these survival items are beneficial as well. It's crucial for everyone to invest in a generator as well; you'll never know when you're going to need it, so have it just in case.
Sources:
1. Gottlieb, Martin; Glanz, James (August 15, 2003). "The Blackouts of '65 and '77 Became Defining Moments in the City's History". New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
2. http://abc7ny.com/news/look-back-1977-nyc-blackout-40-years-later/2212931/
3. https://www.amny.com/entertainment/the-1977-nyc-blackout-and-the-hip-hop-spark-that-ignited-soon-after-1.13796834
4. https://bklyner.com/blackout-of-1977-34-years-ago-%E2%80%94-a-sheepshead-bay-remembrance-sheepshead-bay/
5. http://bronxink.org/2012/10/30/25819-hurricane-sandy-leaves-behind-fallen-trees-power-outages-along-south-coast-of-bronx/
6. https://www.diehardsurvivor.com/the-72-hour-survival-kit-why-it-is-vital-it-be-a-part-of-every-survival-plan/
7. https://www.pinterest.com/explore/emergency-food-kits/
8. https://planyourcity.net/2012/11/02/post-hurricane-sandy-from-new-york-city/
9. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/10/16/roman_mars_99_percent_invisible_was_the_1977_nyc_wide_blackout_a_catalyst.html
10. https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2012/11/hurricane-sandy-one-week-after-landfall/100399/#
11. The New York City blackout of 1977 was an electricity blackout that affected most of New York City on July 13–14, 1977.
2. http://abc7ny.com/news/look-back-1977-nyc-blackout-40-years-later/2212931/
3. https://www.amny.com/entertainment/the-1977-nyc-blackout-and-the-hip-hop-spark-that-ignited-soon-after-1.13796834
4. https://bklyner.com/blackout-of-1977-34-years-ago-%E2%80%94-a-sheepshead-bay-remembrance-sheepshead-bay/
5. http://bronxink.org/2012/10/30/25819-hurricane-sandy-leaves-behind-fallen-trees-power-outages-along-south-coast-of-bronx/
6. https://www.diehardsurvivor.com/the-72-hour-survival-kit-why-it-is-vital-it-be-a-part-of-every-survival-plan/
7. https://www.pinterest.com/explore/emergency-food-kits/
8. https://planyourcity.net/2012/11/02/post-hurricane-sandy-from-new-york-city/
9. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_eye/2014/10/16/roman_mars_99_percent_invisible_was_the_1977_nyc_wide_blackout_a_catalyst.html
10. https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2012/11/hurricane-sandy-one-week-after-landfall/100399/#
11. The New York City blackout of 1977 was an electricity blackout that affected most of New York City on July 13–14, 1977.