Danny Hoch goes in on gentrification in his one-man show "Taking Over"

Danny Hoch is dope man. I just saw his latest one man show entitled "Taking Over." The show focuses on the gentrification of Williamsburg, Brooklyn from a variety of perspectives, that he acts out brilliantly. The show is serious, but absolutely hilarious as well. It specifically pertains to New York, but gentrification is happening in most major cities in the US, so the reverberations echo widely.

It definitely had me leaving the venue feelin pretty guilty, but thats kind of the point. I feel that its our tendency to not acknowledge that we are complicit in a problem, so we shrug off blame by citing how we are exceptions to whatever the critique may be. It would be easy for me to watch his show and say "I'm from an urban city that is experiencing the same problems. I'm not a mid-western artsy hipster who indulges in micro-brews at industrial art gallery openings, therefore i am not a member of the NY gentry." I could say all those things and more, but that doesn't address the core issue. At the end of the day I am a white Californian squatting in Washington Heights. Scouting another frontier of potential urban renewal. Its pertinent to be aware of this, admit this and move on productively. How long did we talk about this shit Tre??

Its a real issue and negotiating the divide between community development and gentrificatin is not easy, but we have to. We have to because this is just a microcosm of a struggle that many who want to work towards "social justice" must reconcile. How do you change things for the positive without overstepping your bounds? What is your place? How do you do what you want and not be limited by society, while still respecting who's lives you have the moral authority to improve? If I'm a white male who wants to work in minority communities educating youth on issues of social justice, do I not because I don't look like the students, or do I not only if I don't know how to reach them?

Many wrestle with this and divorce themselves from any responsibility because there seem to be too many rules that govern trying to help society. Others, like Kyla or Lilly, may opt to teach those in their own communities because the idea that "white society" doesn't need help and alternative education is SUPER twisted. Others may say "fuck it, this is my passion Ima do it regardless." All of these are more productive than doing nothing. Just know that whatever you do, don't jump in blindly.

The non-profit sector and Teach for America type programs are chalk full of well intentioned liberals, white or not, who don't really know how to go about doing what they feel inclined or obligated to do. You can help society and cater to what you excel in too. There are many fronts to fight on- its like the only benefit of a fucked up world- choose one that suits you. I am not the Darfur activist, the global warming head, or the prison expert, but all of them are valid roles in needed areas. To borrow a concept from the esteemed Jullien Gordon (bio, blog, biz), Problem+Passion= Purpose. Take a problem relevant to you and a skill or passion you have and fuse those together. Let that be your mission, your contribution, your participation in a solution.

Okay, sorry consider this rant over!

Check out Danny Hoch's website for all sorts of particulars regarding his shows, performance dates, etc. Dude is raw, don't sleep on him! For all my LA heads, he will be down your way Jan 21-Feb 22 at the Kirk Douglass Theater. Go!