Bedford-Stuyvesant, 2010

The majority of the novel is set in 2010, in the neighborhood of Bedford, Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City. The neighborhood is also colloquially known as “Do or Die Bed-Stuy” (85). It is described as a poor part of the city, but with gentrification looming at its edges. The neighborhood’s issues include litter, homelessness, violence, and drugs. In order ameliorate some of the effects of drug use, Evelyn discretely runs a needle exchange program in the neighborhood, since arresting dealers only seems to bring in new dealers (44-47). Lucia’s boyfriend is the head of a notorious local gang, bringing the neighborhood’s violence to the front door of Mercy House

Mercy House

Founded in 1984, Mercy House itself is a “five-bedroom, hundred-year-old row house in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn” (3) specifically on Chauncey Street. The door has an angel-shaped door knocker. The house is run by Evelyn, Maria...