In a new home.
Since moving in nobody's really been friendly at all. Been a few hellos but people have been really unchatty which I'm not used to.
The guy in the local shop won't talk to DH at all. Takes his money but won't acknowledge his chit chat in any way but chats away to other customers. He visably shuts down when it's DH turn to pay. It's so weird!!
I'm a heavily Muslim populated area with alot of black people.
Anyways I heard my neighbour talking and she said 'it's been years since anyone moved out of this avenue, I can't believe (former tenant) is gone. New neighbour seems alright, they're quiet and nice enough but it's just gentrification really isn't it. It's always been a black area'
I'm just really shocked to be honest. I previously come from a road that was really diverse and everyone was just lovely it was a proper community and former tenant said I would love all the neighbours but they've just been so frosty. Both my former neighbours were refugees and we got along so well, minded each other's kids etc. So I didn't even think about it being an issue.
I feel really awkward now being out side my home and seeing neighbours.
Thing is I don't think I even fit the criteria of what gentrification is!!
I'm disability benefits and I've recently moved house through a mutual housing exchange, so it's not like I'm a rich white lady buying up properties in a black area trying to make it posh or something 🥴 it's just my council house!
I just feel unwelcome