Introduction
“Takeover” is an intriguing and entertaining documentary highlighting the seizure of the dilapidating Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx by the Young Lords Party in 1970. The Young Lords Party consisted of a group of Puerto Rican activists inspired by the Black Panther Party. Juan González, a co-founder of the Young Lords, assisted in organizing the action in the film.
Using contemporary interviews and the archive video, “Takeover” shows how the marginalized population was opposed to the facilities that were founded on wealth and white supremacy. Moreover, the documentary delves into explaining how they yearned for accessible and quality healthcare (Takeover). The residents of the South Bronx faced significant hardships in the 1970s, including the high rate of poverty and crime and a lack of sufficient housing and infrastructure.
Poor Healthcare Infrastructure and Government Neglect
The film demonstrates that the healthcare facilities were poorly maintained and managed. Hospitals were so poorly maintained that the emergency rooms were full of rats and blood paintings on their walls (Takeover). Additionally, the hospital infrastructure was deteriorating, and the buildings needed painting, proper lighting, and safety equipment. Although the Hospital had been constantly condemned for a long period and advocated for its renovation, the government ignored this aspect and left it to act as a treatment center for marginalized populations. This element, combined with others, angered the residents, prompting them to stage an occupation of the Hospital.
Poverty and Marginalization in the South Bronx
The issue of dilapidated Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx is only one among several issues suffered by the residents of the South Bronx. People in this place were highly marginalized in education and job opportunities, making them poor and unable to earn a living. High poverty levels also affected the region, and the people lacked basic needs.
According to Mthethwa, 15 out of 100 families lived in absolute poverty. This means they could not afford necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing (Mthethwa). As a result, many young minorities turned into criminals to earn a living. Police statistics demonstrate that minorities conducted around 90 % of the crimes in the area, and their main targets were the white residents who then had better living standards (Mthethwa). This number is alarming and a significant threat to society since the youths are key to future economic growth.
Deteriorating Infrastructure and Housing Crisis
Moreover, poor infrastructure and housing were also common in the region. Roads, electricity, and housing infrastructure deteriorated due to government neglect and discriminative state policies (Ndiaye). For instance, the housing policies resulted in property owners’ negligence of the houses. They also contributed to a decrease in the housing value, making the property owners find no benefit in renovating houses. Others sold their apartments to investors who subdivided them to create more homes to increase profits. This aspect greatly reduced the house spaces and increased the overall population density of the region.
This issue was even made worse by the government’s initiative to upgrade housing to raise revenues from the housing. This was done by demolishing poor houses and replacing them with better units. As a result, many marginalized persons were left homeless since they could not afford the newly constructed homes. These poor living conditions, coupled with homelessness, resulted in worse consequences, such as high rates of crime (Ndiaye). Around 250000 marginalized people were displaced, and 80% of housing was lost to fire (Takeover). Such problems were evident that action was needed to save this group.
Systemic Discrimination in Public Services
Systemic corruption and discrimination were apparent within the South Bronx region’s government. Racism can be shown in the discrimination of people of color in healthcare, housing, and education. These facilities were not properly maintained in the same manner as that of white people. According to “Summary of Vital Statistics,” the region saw over 30% infant mortality for every 1000 live births, and less than half of school-aged children were enrolled (“Summary of Vital Statistics”).
This evidence demonstrates that both the health care and school infrastructures were insufficient to support education and people’s health care. Furthermore, the marginalized were discriminated against in housing. White individuals were given government subsidies to live in better houses, while minority groups were not provided with this benefit. According to Ferguson, poor living conditions characterized by overcrowding, a lack of basic facilities, and deteriorating infrastructure have been linked to negative effects on people’s physical and mental health (105748). Poor facilities, such as poorly maintained roads and a lack of access to critical services such as healthcare, enhanced the community’s marginalization and limited growth opportunities.
The film also demonstrates how institutionalized racism and discriminatory legislation lead to persistent disparities in socioeconomic status. The whites are demonstrated to lead a better life than blacks and Puerto Ricans. Poverty, discrimination, and a lack of essential services all made life difficult for these residents.
To address racism and discrimination, the film emphasizes the importance of structural and policy changes in achieving social justice and addressing the root causes of these issues. In addition, the depiction of escalating criminal activity in the region brings attention to society’s social and security problems. Rising crime rates and insecurity could be linked to socioeconomic factors, including poverty, unemployment, and substandard housing. Based on these aspects, the video exposes the daily challenges that residents of the South Bronx experienced and the impact that crime had on their lives and well-being.
Community Activism and the Role of the Young Lords Party
The film emphasizes the importance of local action and initiatives in supporting change. The Young Lords Party, an organization of largely Puerto Rican activists, took decisive and courageous action to address healthcare access and other systemic disparities. In the film, collective action is proven to be an effective technique of giving people who have been underrepresented a voice while safeguarding their freedoms. It is a good reminder of the need for local efforts to close social, economic, and health outcomes inequities.
Furthermore, this image serves as a reminder of the never-ending struggle for fairness and social justice. Even though the film was set in 1970, many of the issues and disadvantages South Bronx residents face are still present today. It makes us reflect on how far we have come and how far we still have to go to close health and socioeconomic inequities, give marginalized groups a voice, and ensure justice for everyone.
Conclusion
To summarize, “Takeover” is an intriguing video highlighting the Young Lords Party’s 1970 capture of the dilapidated Lincoln Hospital. The film depicts Lincoln Hospital’s dilapidated state and other factors that contributed to its seizure. Apart from the badly maintained Hospital, residents of the South Bronx faced high levels of poverty, inadequate housing, and high crime rates because of poor government policies and institutional racism. This film emphasizes the significance of structural change and community empowerment to close health and socioeconomic disparities. The video effectively illustrates the importance of continuing efforts to advocate for fair and inclusive societies, as well as the ongoing fight for social justice in New York State and other states in the US.
Works Cited
Ferguson, Lauren, et al. “Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution Across Socio-economic Groups in High-income Countries: A Scoping Review of the Literature and a Modelling Methodology.” Environment International, vol. 143, 2020, p. 105748. Web.
Ndiaye, Diogomaye. “How the Bronx Burned.” Bronx River Alliance. 2021. Web.
“Summary of Vital Statistics 2000.” New York City. Web.
Takeover: How We Occupied a Hospital and Changed Public Health Care. Directed by Emma Francis Snyder.” YouTube, uploaded by New York Times. 2021. Web.
Mthethwa, Nqobile. “July 14, 1970: Young Lords Occupy Lincoln Hospital.” Zinn Education Project, 2023. Web.