Civil Rights
Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.
q2K BHP
Black History Portal
THE BHP WIRE —
HIDDEN TRUTHS
What's New!
Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.
Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.
Innovation, patents, science, technology and world-changing contributions.
Pioneers, champions, Negro Leagues, records, activism and excellence.
Meet the people whose lives, choices and achievements shaped the journey.
Black towns, communities, institutions and places where history happened.
Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.
In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972 she launched a campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, breaking another political barrier.
MORE →Reflects the personal views, recollections, and perspective of the author, Mike Davis.
This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985
Sulukule | |
|---|---|
Quarter | |
 Sulukule district | |
  Sulukule Location within Istanbul Fatih | |
| Coordinates: 41°01′35″N 28°56′02″E / 41.02639°N 28.93389°E | |
| Country |  Turkey |
| Region | Marmara |
| Province | Istanbul |
| District | Fatih |
| Established | 15th century |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
| Postal code | 34091, 34093, 34097 |
| Area code | 0212 |
Sulukule (literally: "Water tower") is a historic quarter in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is within the area of Istanbul’s historic peninsula, adjacent to the western part of the city walls. The area has historically been occupied by Romani communities.[1] Roma presence in this part of Istanbul dates back to Byzantine times, when upon Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, that the quarter became (reportedly) the first district in the world permanently settled by sedentary Romani people in Turkey.[2]
Sulukule was notable for its entertainment houses, where the Romani performed music and dance to the visitors from in and outside Istanbul. The closure of these entertainment houses in 1992 precipitated serious socio-economic decline in the area.
In 2005, the ruling AKP authorities in the Fatih and Greater Istanbul municipalities announced plans to redevelop Sulukule, demolishing most buildings and replacing them with far more expensive housing that was unaffordable to many who had previously lived there. Despite protests and objections, in 2008 the local government started compulsory purchase orders and forced evictions.[3] It is claimed that these evictions disproportionately affected Romani residents.[4][3]
The redevelopment has since been used as a case study in "planned gentrification".[5]
Source: Wikipedia. Article content is retrieved live through the MediaWiki API.
Sulukule (literally: "Water tower") is a historic quarter in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is within the area of Istanbul’s historic peninsula, adjacent to the western part of the city walls. The area has historically been occupied by Romani communities. Roma presence in this part of Istanbul dates back to Byzantine times, when upon Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, that the quarter became (reportedly) the first district in the world permanently settled by sedentary Romani people in Turkey. Sulukule was notable for its entertainment houses, where the Romani performed music and dance to the visitors from in and outside Istanbul. The closure of these entertainment houses in 1992 precipitated serious socio-economic decline in the area.
This is a list of dances of the Romani people. The most prominent Gypsy dance styles are those amongst the Roma in the Balkans. The Sulukule district in Istanbul is famous for its Romani dances. Prominent Romani dances in Western Europe include the flamenco dance, the traditional dance from Andalusia in Southern Spain. The Roma in Wales were also renowned for their distinctive style of dance, most notably for their rendition of clog dancing. After leaving India, the Romani people spread across the world, with many settling in various European countries. As eternal nomads, they traveled through different regions before reaching Europe, which is why their dance incorporates elements from Persian, Celtic, Balkan, Indian, Arabic, and many other cultures. Romani dance is vibrant, energetic, and captivating, reflecting the traditions, nomadic lifestyle, and spirit of freedom of the Romani people. The music accompanying the dance is played on local instruments that have evolved over the centuries. Romani dance is known for its improvisation, freedom, energy, and passion. Because the Roma historically settled in many different countries, several distinct styles of Romani dance have developed, influenced by the local cultures and creativity of the Romani communities. Today, Romani dance styles differ from country to country, featuring wide, flowing skirts, shoulder shakes, tap and intricate footwork from Russia; body clapping from Hungary; and hip movements from Romania, Greece, Turkey, and regions further east.
Romani hip hop is a musical genre from Eastern Europe, formed through a fusion of hip hop with Romani melodies and lyrics. Artists include Kmetoband and Gipsy.cz. The Turkish Romani hip hop group Tahribad-ı İsyan was founded in Istanbul's Sulukule neighbourhood, a historically Roma area.
Çürüklük is a small neighborhood in Kasımpaşa in the Beyoğlu municipality on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey. The word çürüklük means "rottenness," "garbage dump," or "graveyard for executed criminals and paupers." The area is said to have been built on the site of a Byzantine garbage dump that stretched from Elmadağ in Şişli to Tepebaşı in Beyoğlu (near the present British Consulate). Çürüklük is one of the historic Romani ("Gypsy") neighborhoods of Istanbul, along with Selamsız, Sulukule, Küçükbakkalköy, Tophane, Çayırboyu, and Lonca.
Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.
MORE →The Greenwood District.
