Community Post

"Divide and Conquer" movie looks at gentrification, murder

Yesterday we spoke to Rafael Flores, the director of the new movie we caught filming at 23rd & Union on Saturday night. A graduate student at San Francisco State University, Flores is producing the film as part of his thesis on how gentrification affects communities of color and other marginalized populations.

Flores describes the movie as a docu-drama that weaves in interviews with a story and characters based on the murder of Degene Dashasa in his restaurant in 2008. The director was friends with Dashasa and shares mutual acquaintances with convicted murderer Rey Davis-Bell. He’s completed interviews with a wide range of people familiar with each man to help lay out the chain of events that led to the shooting.

The movie is using the story of that murder as a vehicle to talk about the larger story of gentrification in the Central District, and tension between the African American community and more recent arrivals such as Ethiopian immigrants and gays on Capitol Hill. According to Flores’ thesis, forces of gentrification follow a recognizable pattern that often results in violence as communities are marginalized and pushed out of their homes.

Keep an eye out and you might catch movie making in progress around the neighborhood through this week. Monday was the 5th day of filming for the movie, with 3 more days to go.

No release date is available yet, but check back on Flores’ website at http://www.greeneyedmedia.com for updates.

0 thoughts on “"Divide and Conquer" movie looks at gentrification, murder

  1. “forces of gentrification follow a recognizable pattern that often results in violence as communities are marginalized and pushed out of their homes.”

    Glad to know that the blame lies with people who dare to invest in a struggling neighborhood, often paying 50 times the original value of the homes they buy, rather than the thug who pulled the trigger.

  2. My thoughts exactly. I am not sure how people are “pushed out of their homes.”

  3. Typical. Do you even understand why people who never had anything to do with the black community before started buying houses in this neighborhood? Because you and I both know it wasn’t to invest in a struggling neighborhood. It was to come up on a nice house. Or maybe even a “fixer upper” that is a great deal and can be changed into exactly what you think you want. And don’t forget the super convenient location. Location! Location! Location! The Montlake divide is long gone so come on in right?

    Why do you think the original value of the homes that were stolen, I mean bought, have increased so much or were so low to begin with? If you made a real estate decision you regret that is on you. If the neighborhood didn’t turn out like you expected that is also on you. And if it’s not changing fast enough for you than oh well. In theory. But in reality forces of gentrification do follow a recognizable pattern and new residents do put pressure (both visible and invisible) on long time residents and family members. So it’s not just on you, it’s on everyone. Think it through instead of getting so defensive about a process you are a part of.

    Whenever the word gentrification is mentioned on this site, which seems to be dominated by gentrifying residents in the comment section, people get all up in arms and want to talk about thugs and how they are so much better than “those people”. Is that all you can manage to think about when the word gentrification comes up? That you are better than other people? And the businesses and community you provide are better than anything else that is already here?

    Just the other day CentralCinema called the word gentrification the G-bomb and went so far as to imply it should not be used on this site. Again, the response is typical and escapes any form of critical analysis in favor of protecting yourself from some form of guilt. So who is really playing the blame game?

    For people who are about to come in this comment section to school me, I have heard the typical response a million times so you might as well save it. In here (CDN news) you will be preaching to the choir anyway.

    And in case you happen to be reading this Rafael, thank you for telling a story that is difficult to tell and will piss many people off. The story needs to be told in a responsible way and I’m glad you are telling it.

  4. I applaud any homeowner OR renter… that wants to look out for their neighbors safety, look after buildings or property, prevent health hazards, and reach out to others that may want to but do not know how. These actions build community and if people cannot deal with it then it is their problem.

  5. Unpersuaded by your weak argument. There are societal pressures keeping black people down, but they don’t include whites buying houses in the CD.

  6. I never said that white people who buy houses in the CD keep black people down. But at least we agree that there are societal pressures that do keep black people down. Social and economic inequality is real and so is racism and so is gentrification. Have you ever taken a look at how gentrification has impacted neighborhoods all over this country? I’m unpersuaded by your weak 2 sentence response but I’m willing to have a dialog.

  7. What I’m about to say might blow your mind, MJ. It is entirely possible to be against gentrification and for building community. That’s right. I can be against gentrification and fully support looking out for my neighbors’ safety, looking after buildings and property, preventing health hazards, and reaching out to others. Why don’t people get that an argument against gentrification is not an argument for crime or a shitty neighborhood. Is that really so hard to understand? Do you reduce all complex life situations into such simplistic equations?

  8. Nobody used the words “whites” in any of the comments. The article states:

    “The movie is using the story of that murder as a vehicle to talk about the larger story of gentrification in the Central District, and tension between the African American community and more recent arrivals such as Ethiopian immigrants and gays on Capitol Hill.”

    It’s bigger than just “whites” moving into the neighborhood. And to note (to everyone), because I am white and own a home in the CD, all races of people are gentrifying the CD. My neighbors are asian, white, black, indian, etc. and they all are recent additions to the CD. Don’t lump gentrification at one race of people. I love the neighborhood, and I didn’t buy in the CD so I could get a “good deal”. I bought in the neighborhood because I love the parks, the lake, and the diversity it offers.

    Nobody “owns” gentrification or the effects from it. Otherwise that would mean that historically there were no other races of people, other than blacks, living in the CD. I think Suckafree is equally guilty of perpetuating the whites versus black argument as the others on this post. The story and documentary is not about that.

    Curious Suckafree, since you know so much about why people buy houses in the CD, and lump everyone into the same category as those “with no connection to the black community”, how do you lump blacks who contribute to gentrifications? Maybe I am presuming that skin color gives you automatic connection to a community? Maybe that is why Scott’s post specifically mentions Ethiopians and you have by default lumped them into the people with no connection to the black community. If you are an immigrant who is presumabely less wealthy than the residents of the CD are you contributing to gentrification? Maybe that is a question for the film maker?

  9. Suckafree, Stolen value?
    Most of those single former black owned homes in the CD, became three or four black owned homes in Rainier Valley or South King County. For some reason there wasn’t a whole lot of complaining about gentrification in the CD during the 80s and 90s when the changeover really occurred. The homeowners sure didn’t stand up for their renting neighbors when they were evicted.

    Subsequent buyers can’t be blamed that the first owners didn’t realize how high prices would get and didn’t hold out longer. Subsequent buyers can’t be blamed that agents from Countrywide, Chase, or Bank of America targeted African Americans for the sub-prime loans that stole the equity from the first sale. I wish the first owners had been educated about the goldmines they were sitting on in 1990 and the true terms of scam-loans in 2004. I wish they were more skeptical of the friendly faces fronting for banks and real estate companies. But that’s water under the bridge now and has nothing to do with the white or gay or Ethiopian family currently living in that Central District house.

    As for renters who really got pushed out, unless Seattle had adopted strong rent control and tenant rights in the 1970s(last time they were seriously considered), they were going to get hosed no matter what.

  10. I could not tell you who originally built some of the beaufiful CD homes from the early 1900s or 1920s, but my understanding is that there were quite a few distict communities, including a large Jewish community, Italian community, Cathalic Irish community, African American community, etc, and that the homes slowly became less stylish, and less desirable as newer and more mixed communities began to expand out onto Beacon Hill, the Rainier Valley, etc. When these CD homes became predominately owned or occupied by African American familiy, I think people forgot that this had at one time been a very diverse and mixed cultural area for many years. Now with the return of families from other areas, suddenly we call it gentrification because they are making changes that make the homes more reflective of their needs and style. I

    We moved from a rental home in the Rainier Valley, back in the 90, and bought our home in the CD because we needed a home and could not afford as much of a house anywhere else. Yes, with our pre-qualification (loan) in hand, we had looked in Mt Baker, Beacon Hill, and other more pricy areas, but when we finally used this pre-approved loan, we don’t believe that either the Realtor or the bank cared if we were African American or not, or whether we were potential Gentrification material. We are here now, and wonder what history may term the next migration either out of, or into the CD? Neighborhoods change as people find reasons that encourage them to move, and the CD is no differece.

  11. Yes, a black man shooting a black business owner over a personal altercation can be blamed on…white folks moving in to the neighborhood. That makes sense.

  12. I grew up on 26th Ave south in the 500 block, with almost all Japanese and Italian families. There were 3 black families on the block, including the fabulous musician Floyd Standifer. Black homeowners became more and more prevalent in the neighborhood when interned Japanese had their houses stolen by the government. No race, black or white, said “we can’t steal those folks’ houses” and refused to buy them at bargain prices. Whomever could, bought. As the italians moved to the burbs and the Japanese lost their houses, blacks flooded in after WWII in much greater numbers than had existed before in what had been a pretty darned diverse area. Now, Floyd’s family, when he died, sold his house and the 2 he bought next to it to white developers who built skinny houses. The other 2 black families on the block were the Baileys and the Standifers. Mrs. Bailey’s criminal relatives were such a blight on the safety of the neighborhood the poor old woman finally sold just to be in an apartment alone where her druggie children couldn’t come and live off her and steal from her. She sold the house to an East Indian woman who now rents it out to 3 black families. The last house on the block owned by a black family – well, the granny finally died and now the kids are selling the house not to a black family, but to whomever has green money. They’re selling the house for ten times what their father paid for it. Ten times. Now, when they sell the nearly condemned wreck to a white person who fixes it up, y’all will scream “gentrification!” and blame all black on black crime on these folks’ houses being stolen by whites. Balogny. If you don’t want “gentrification” stop selling the houses you inherit from your grandparents and parents, to white folks!

  13. I haven’t thought of Floyd Standifer (who I knew a little bit, and asked to play my wedding reception) for a while, so thank you for reminding me of him.

  14. As it became predominately African American it included many middle-class African Americans and many of other groups remained. The reality is that it has one of the most interesting histories of any area in Seattle. Most of the groups who resided here as a group any one time left a rich history behind. The Boeing bust in the 70s, combined with redlining, really hurt the area and led to the destruction of some of the originality of the homes, storefronts, and historical aspects. If not destroyed much was left untended. The tearing town of homes where the lid is now didn’t help.

    All of Seattle has gentrified and affordable housing is an issue everywhere. The lack of jobs is a problem. There are real problems here and in Seattle. It would be interesting if just once the CD was celebrated for its diversity and its history, and not the main target of frustrations. The frustrations are understandable, but really the way people talk to and about each other on all sides can make a difference. How we treat each other will make a big difference. A little consideration goes along way if the people who live here are ever to play a role in shaping the story of the past, present and future.

  15. Well, I for one, am interested in this movie. I am really excited to see what comes of it. I find it so interesting that here on this site folks immediately start hating on this man and the film he is making about a very difficult and complex subject. Way to build community.

  16. I applaud the addressing of a difficult and complex subject.
    I dislike scapegoating other races, home sellers, home buyers, or anyone else for the violent crime of one man, and thus exonerating him of responsibility for his actions.
    As long as you keep blaming violent crime on everyone EXCEPT the offenders, you perpetuate an “I’m not responsible for my behavior” attitude among a small minority of violent men and women who just get out of jail and repeat their offenses, forever hanging on to the “I’m doing this because I’m a victim of society” caca.
    And what a sad testament to the murder victim here, a man who ran a successful business in an extremely difficult market. To excuse his killer by blaming his crime on “gentrification” is absurd and insulting.

  17. I am really tired of people not taking the blame for their own bad actions and choices. I don’t care if you are white, black, asian, gay, straight…whatever…EVERYONE has the ability to choose to make good and bad decisions. Joining a gang is a choice, pulling the trigger is a choice, turning a trick is a choice, smoking crack is a choice, buying a house is a choice…PEOPLE…come on gentrification is not a bad thing. It has been stigmatized as a negative impact on “marginalized” neighborhoods…but the reality is that these neighborhoods have always been rough, there’s just attention being paid to the violence because more people WHO CARE ABOUT WHERE THEY LIVE are bringing the drugs, gangs, prostitution, trash, violence, etc to light.

    Look in the mirror for a source to blame…CHOOSE to make good decisions that impact you, your family and community positively.

    I’ve lived in the CD for over 10 years.

  18. I know right? These damn crack smokers, trick turners, gang joiners, and trigger pullers. They should really be choosing to buy houses. They are such idiots! All that research on the negative effects of gentrification is just a bunch of crap anyways. I mean marginalized people aren’t even real, are they? If these people who CARE weren’t here can you imagine the kind of things these trouble makers would be getting into. They should really thank all the people with resources who choose to be here. They should be bowing down to you all because you are true model citizens. It’s so obvious that the only people who don’t like this whole gentrification process are just looking for someone to blame for their own bad decisions. If you are not making gentrification happen you are a criminal who makes bad choices.

    It’s kinda like slavery. White people made some bad choices. And Jim Crow laws? Same thing. Bad choices. And redlining neighborhoods, like even this one right here! Well, people make bad choices. And assassinating civil rights leaders, like the ones our parks and streets are named after? Shit. It’s looking like white people have made some bad choices. Oh wait. That’s right. Black people are choosing to remember things like this. And they are choosing to go to under performing schools. And they are choosing to get inferior health care. And obviously they are choosing crack instead of homeownership. So I guess it’s fair and really does just come down to choice.

  19. So wait…people are being forced to become addicted to crack? Wow, whoda thunk. And here I thought we were in control of the actions we take.

  20. it’s been really nice to hear a little about the history of the central district – I’ll have to look into that some more – also great to hear from long time residents on their feelings about the constant negativity we hear way too often in this blog.

  21. Three words that will always make people angry

    Slavery, reparations and gentrification.

  22. Actually, none of those words make me angry. All 3 are very interesting subjects to study and learn from. It’s when I am blamed for things that happened hundreds of years before I was born, or blamed for the actions of criminal neighbors due solely to the color (or lack thereof) of my skin that I am riled (or amused, or saddened, depending on whether it’s the 1st or 20th time this month this has occurred). Especially being a 3rd generation CD resident, and elderly to boot!

  23. It’s just that people get upset when you talk about gentrification in the CD. Like stop talking about it and stop making me feel bad. It shouldn’t make you feel bad but let’s be realistic. Blacks have always been subject to some policy, law or practice that was meant to keep them down. It’s history and a fact of life. No one likes to discuss it because it makes people feel uncomfortable.

    Now I’m not saying being black is an excuse to do drugs and crime and get away with it, but some black people have a certain disadvantage when it comes to life.

  24. The whole thing comes down to races blaming other races for the actions of individuals, no?

  25. Suckafree, it’s not ironic at all. YOU, are just used to only seeing things from your own perspective, so it doesn’t occur to you that people like me have been experiencing YOUR discrimination in the CD for generations, and likely long before you were born.

  26. Yes, my paying 550K to a black family when they choose to sell me their home, which their dad paid 30K for in 1974, thus giving that family a 520K profit for a home that has had zero improvements made to it, is FOR SURE a “practice meant to keep black people down.” I am guilty of that evil gentrification, by paying an insane amount for a run down as hell house which I will fix up, and where I will be an active community participant and local school volunteer, in a neighborhood where I am instantly hated by the same folks who will sell “my kind” their houses as soon as their elderly parents croak. Oh, and in fixing up my house that previously had been falling apart for decades, and in having my kids help the woman next door who is too old to do her own yard work anymore, I will somehow be responsible for young strangers in the area shooting business owners over personal altercations. Shame on evil me.

  27. are you tip toeing around saying reverse racism. wouldn’t surprise me if you thought that way.

  28. Gentrification:

    the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents.

    It has nothing to with race. So please learn the meaning of gentrification before getting up in arms.

  29. ummmm, NO. That’s not what the whole thing comes down to. Like Tasha said before, why don’t you learn the definition of gentrification first before you start boiling everything down.

  30. You can’t even stand to see this post? Hmmm, that says ALOT! The viewing threshold thing is hilarious. It should be called “this post makes people too uncomfortable so we are not going to show it”
    *****************************************************************************************************************
    I know right? These damn crack smokers, trick turners, gang joiners, and trigger pullers. They should really be choosing to buy houses. They are such idiots! All that research on the negative effects of gentrification is just a bunch of crap anyways. I mean marginalized people aren’t even real, are they? If these people who CARE weren’t here can you imagine the kind of things these trouble makers would be getting into. They should really thank all the people with resources who choose to be here. They should be bowing down to you all because you are true model citizens. It’s so obvious that the only people who don’t like this whole gentrification process are just looking for someone to blame for their own bad decisions. If you are not making gentrification happen you are a criminal who makes bad choices.

    It’s kinda like slavery. White people made some bad choices. And Jim Crow laws? Same thing. Bad choices. And redlining neighborhoods, like even this one right here! Well, people make bad choices. And assassinating civil rights leaders, like the ones our parks and streets are named after? Shit. It’s looking like white people have made some bad choices. Oh wait. That’s right. Black people are choosing to remember things like this. And they are choosing to go to under performing schools. And they are choosing to get inferior health care. And obviously they are choosing crack instead of homeownership. So I guess it’s fair and really does just come down to choice.

  31. Gentrification has nothing to with race, but history has proven that African Americans, Asian Americans and many other cultures have been subject to the harsh practices of gentrification. Much of it happened in the CD.

    Now let’s fast forward to 2010 peeps.

    I am a black person with friends of all colors cultures and none of our asses can afford a house in the CD. When affordable housing does come into play, we are disqualified because we make decent incomes and are without any children.

  32. You miss the point. What is being described is neither a white devil, nor a white hero, but instead a good neighbor. How sad for you that you are missing out on lifelong friendships with your good neighbors of all races, because you are so blinded by your racism. And how sad that you were raised indoctrinated with such hatred for people you don’t even know. I’m sad for you, and sad that your neighbors, no matter what good people they might be, will never enjoy your friendship and will always suffer your hatred, because you are poisoned by racism. Everyone loses, and that’s sad.

  33. LET’S MAKE SURE THAT WASHINGTON DC IS VIEW (THE NATION’S CAPITOL SHOWS PLENTY FACTS AS BEING THE AREA WHERE BLACK PEOPLE IS THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY) THE WHITEMAN DOES NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, BUT SIT BACK AND WATCH AS WE PERMIT ACTS THAT SERVE AS GEONCIDE TO BLACK PEOPLE. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND OVERCOME OUR DISTANCES. I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT WE ARE DOING NOTHING BECAUSE WE ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE DILEMMA OF CHOOSING BETWEEN THE NEED FOR CHANGE.
    FROM THE OLD “REACTIONARY” APPROACH TO CRISISES
    VS
    A PRO-ACTIVE APPROACH FOR CRISIS “PREVENTION”

  34. Hi Joel, your ALL CAPS are certainly impressive, but could you please re-post your comment in English?

    My gibberish skills are a little rusty. Thanks!

  35. The movie is called 23rd & Union and it will premiere at Langston Hughes Film festival at the end of this month.

  36. I don’t think any of you have ever seen the film yet…so why don’t you keep your comments about gentrification to yourselves until you see the portrayal of the situation…who knows…it might be great and show you how the situation really occurs…the kid has done some other great things…so give him a chance…I certainly liked scraper bike king…and he is trying to bring Seattle back into the lime light…One thing he has in production will blow your mind…maybe you should shout out your support for this upcoming director/writer/producer instead of quibbling over some term in the dictionary