--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alright, beats,” Tee said. “Mina — you…" description: "\"“Alright, beats,” Tee said. “Mina — you want crime?” “Actually …” She squirmed in her chair and tugged at the scarf she had wrapped around her slender ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/daniel-jos-older-26925_brooklyn_alright-beats-tee-said-mina-you-want-cri_2372875.jpg" --- # Alright, beats,” Tee said. “Mina — you want crime?”… ![“Alright, beats,” Tee said. “Mina — you want crime?” “Actually …” She squirmed in her chair and tugged at the scarf she had wrapped around her slender neck. “I was thinking — a lotta Staten Island folks, including my batshit grandma, were Brooklyn folks once upon a time. Then Great White Flight…” quote by Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/daniel-jos-older-26925_brooklyn_alright-beats-tee-said-mina-you-want-cri_2372875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/daniel-jos-older-26925_brooklyn_alright-beats-tee-said-mina-you-want-cri_2372875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/daniel-jos-older-26925_brooklyn_alright-beats-tee-said-mina-you-want-cri_2372875.jpg) > ““Alright, beats,” Tee said. “Mina — you want crime?” “Actually …” She squirmed in her chair and tugged at the scarf she had wrapped around her slender neck. “I was thinking — a lotta Staten Island folks, including my batshit grandma, were Brooklyn folks once upon a time. Then Great White Flight happened and they dipped, ended up on one of the islands — Staten or Long — and took their money and resources with ’em. Now they sitting there feelin’ bitter about the fact that Brooklyn ain’t theirs anymore and whining about how the bad black and brown folks took it over. Meanwhile, their young, hip counterparts are mounting an actual takeover and pricing out black and brown folks, ya know?” “Our girl just summarized thirty years of urban history in a half a ’graph,” Coruscant marveled.”” [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character critiques gentrification, noting how displaced white residents resent losing their neighborhood while newer, often minority, residents are priced out by rising costs. **In simple terms:** Gentrification causes resentment and displacement across groups. Key Takeaway Recognize and address inequities in urban development. Themes gentrification displacement urban history racial dynamics Mood critical reflective Type analytical social commentary When to use this quote - city planning meetings - community organizing - housing policy debates - real estate investment analysis Key Concepts housing markets economic inequality social change neighborhood identity Questions to Reflect On - How does gentrification affect long-term residents of both groups? - What policies could balance development with equity? A Different Perspective The quote oversimplifies complex socioeconomic forces and may ignore systemic racism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brooklyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brooklyn/) ## Related quotes > [On a personal note, I was born in Brooklyn. 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Jetties and barrier walls supported the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-cotto/past-the-projects-the-land-opened-up-and-water-came-into-view-the/) [Andrew Cotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-cotto/) > [You sail into the harbor, and Staten Island is on your left, and then you see the Statue of Liberty. This is what everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/you-sail-into-the-harbor-and-staten-island-is-on-your-left-and-then/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Staten Island is like a different world. If you're from Staten Island, you're like not from New York, you're from Staten Island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-fox/staten-island-is-like-a-different-world-if-you-re-from-staten-island/) [Julia Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-fox/) > [I'm aggressive, quite frankly, because Staten Island gets screwed all the time. And if I'm not aggressive, then I won't be successful. That's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grimm/i-m-aggressive-quite-frankly-because-staten-island-gets-screwed-all/) [Michael Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grimm/) > [I always remember to go on the Staten Island Ferry because it's the most amazing view of New York. And it's free! You see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-pigott-smith/i-always-remember-to-go-on-the-staten-island-ferry-because-it-s-the/) [Tim Pigott-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-pigott-smith/) > [“Staten Island      Best for: Views of Manhattan from the ferry      What you won’t find: Notable museums, nightlife, hotels, theaters, truly great restaurants, interesting architecture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-frommer/staten-island-best-for-views-of-manhattan-from-the-ferry-what-you-won/) Pauline Frommer > [My name is Carmella, and I'm the moonwalking, trash-talking princess of Staten Island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmella/my-name-is-carmella-and-i-m-the-moonwalking-trash-talking-princess-of/) [Carmella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmella/) > [On Staten Island, there's a ship graveyard. I'm using that a lot, even for 'Under the Dome.' When I'm dissatisfied with a location scout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niels-arden-oplev/on-staten-island-there-s-a-ship-graveyard-i-m-using-that-a-lot-even/) [Niels Arden Oplev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niels-arden-oplev/) > [I'm the Princess of Staten Island. You gotta go big or go home, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmella/i-m-the-princess-of-staten-island-you-gotta-go-big-or-go-home-baby/) [Carmella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmella/) > [“When things get too much for me, I put a wild-flower book and a couple of sandwiches in my pockets and go down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mitchell/when-things-get-too-much-for-me-i-put-a-wild-flower-book-and-a-couple/) [Joseph Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mitchell/) > [Every time we have a chance to mention it, we say we're from Staten Island. Because of some of the stereotypes, sometimes Staten Island…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-vulcano/every-time-we-have-a-chance-to-mention-it-we-say-we-re-from-staten/) [Sal Vulcano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-vulcano/) > [Staten Island is segregated, but it's also - I don't know. It's, like, it's not - it's not unprogressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-jost/staten-island-is-segregated-but-it-s-also-i-don-t-know-it-s-like-it-s/) [Colin Jost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-jost/) ## More by Daniel José Older > [“This Book is Dedicated to Black Girls Everywhere. You are Powerful. You are Beautiful. You are Loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/this-book-is-dedicated-to-black-girls-everywhere-you-are-powerful-you/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“But once when she was chatting with some stupid boy online, she described herself as the color of coffee with not enough milk. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/but-once-when-she-was-chatting-with-some-stupid-boy-online-she/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“Tee shook her head. “You know how like … but then sometimes … and you’re just … ya know? Without any kinda … whatsoever.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/tee-shook-her-head-you-know-how-like-but-then-sometimes-and-you-re/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“Tee shook her head. “You know how like … but then sometimes … and you’re just … ya know? Without any kinda … whatsoever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/tee-shook-her-head-you-know-how-like-but-then-sometimes-and-you-re-2/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“Spirits flitted through the red-and-orange sky like leaves blown on the October wind. 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Crazy was a way to shut people up, disregard them entirely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/the-same-word-anyone-said-when-they-didn-t-understand-something-crazy/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“My mama told me not to take freaky magic cards from strange white girls I meet in the woods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/my-mama-told-me-not-to-take-freaky-magic-cards-from-strange-white/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“But it was hard work making suggestions and not blatant declarations with her ever-changing Puerto Rican body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/but-it-was-hard-work-making-suggestions-and-not-blatant-declarations/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“If we didn’t we’d be summarily executed, remember? Or long-distance choke-smashed by your beloved archwizard woo-woo-in-chief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/if-we-didn-t-we-d-be-summarily-executed-remember-or-long-distance/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“If you take any longer,” Rutilio chortled, “Sierra here will be in the nursing home by the time you’re done. Anyway, your entire family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/if-you-take-any-longer-rutilio-chortled-sierra-here-will-be-in-the/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“Ghosts can be really out of line sometimes. It's one thing to come back for true love and cause a little hubbub. Or some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/ghosts-can-be-really-out-of-line-sometimes-it-s-one-thing-to-come/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) > [“Maybe the word hasn’t been invented yet – that thing beyond diversity. We often define movements by what they’re against, but the final goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jos-older/maybe-the-word-hasn-t-been-invented-yet-that-thing-beyond-diversity/) [Daniel José Older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) [Explore all 20 Daniel José Older quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jos-older/) ## More Brooklyn quotes > [Mike Tyson is the most complex person I've ever met in my life. I've known Mike since 1986. We're both from Brooklyn. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/mike-tyson-is-the-most-complex-person-i-ve-ever-met-in-my-life-i-ve/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [Brooklyn is a very weird borough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keeth-smart/brooklyn-is-a-very-weird-borough/) [Keeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keeth-smart/) > [Compton is this amazing place with a rich history. I see it as a new Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aja-brown/compton-is-this-amazing-place-with-a-rich-history-i-see-it-as-a-new/) [Aja Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aja-brown/) > [I love the little garden in the back of my family's brownstone in Brooklyn. Digging out there in the dirt is a joy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/i-love-the-little-garden-in-the-back-of-my-family-s-brownstone-in/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [Brooklyn, where I grew up, is a competitive burg - there's always a pretty boy around the corner there, and you gotta look better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophilus-london/brooklyn-where-i-grew-up-is-a-competitive-burg-there-s-always-a/) [Theophilus London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophilus-london/) > [Coming from Haiti and growing up in Brooklyn, there's a lot of European influence when I get dressed up. I wear a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/coming-from-haiti-and-growing-up-in-brooklyn-there-s-a-lot-of/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [No, I ain't a star - I'm just a kid from Brooklyn, living his dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astro/no-i-ain-t-a-star-i-m-just-a-kid-from-brooklyn-living-his-dream/) [Astro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astro/) > [Brooklyn is not the easiest place to grow up in, although I wouldn't change that experience for anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/brooklyn-is-not-the-easiest-place-to-grow-up-in-although-i-wouldn-t/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [My childhood here... was very limited. So it was a long, long time before I actually went out to Brooklyn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/my-childhood-here-was-very-limited-so-it-was-a-long-long-time-before/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [My father grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., with my grandparents. In Norwegian my name is pronounced 'Yoo' but my father used to call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesbo/my-father-grew-up-in-brooklyn-n-y-with-my-grandparents-in-norwegian/) [Jo Nesbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesbo/) > [Comparing the Brooklyn that I know with Manhattan is like comparing a comfortable and complacent duenna to her more brilliant and neurotic sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/comparing-the-brooklyn-that-i-know-with-manhattan-is-like-comparing-a/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [We wept, Brooklyn was a lovely place to hit. If you got a ball in the air, you had a chance to get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-snider/we-wept-brooklyn-was-a-lovely-place-to-hit-if-you-got-a-ball-in-the/) [Duke Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-snider/) > [Bob Smith from Brooklyn is a guy who sometimes gets hung with problems and fears. Wolfman Jack is a happy-go-lucky guy who knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfman-jack/bob-smith-from-brooklyn-is-a-guy-who-sometimes-gets-hung-with/) [Wolfman Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfman-jack/) > [I don't think that you can say by any stretch of the imagination that all Wisconsin or Brooklyn-based poets write in a particular way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthea-harvey/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-say-by-any-stretch-of-the-imagination-that/) [Matthea Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthea-harvey/) > [I had never really felt settled in Brooklyn. I think it had to do with growing up in New Jersey and being someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-had-never-really-felt-settled-in-brooklyn-i-think-it-had-to-do-with/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) [Browse all 556 Brooklyn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brooklyn/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Alright, beats,” Tee said. “Mina — you want crime?” “Actually …” She squirmed in her chair and tugged at the scarf she had wrapped around her slender neck. “I was thinking — a lotta Staten Island folks, including my batshit grandma, were Brooklyn folks once upon a time. Then Great White Flight happened and they dipped, ended up on one of the islands — Staten or Long — and took their money and resources with ’em. Now they sitting there feelin’ bitter about the fact that Brooklyn ain’t theirs anymore and whining about how the bad black and brown folks took it over. 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