In the memoir Forte Greene Dreams, music and cultural critic, journalist, and filmmaker Nelson George speaks about his experience of moving from Queens to Forte Greene. Immediately George pointed out the differences between his old and new apartment. The contrast between two was so great he mentioned that his upstairs was so spacious that you can fit his whole Queens apartment up there. The only reason he was able to afford the place was because of the crime that surrounded the neighborhood. During his seventeen years at 19 Willoughby he wrote five books, one was his breakthrough work The Death of Rhythm and Blues.

When walking out to pick up some soul food from a basement spot on Dekalb, George mentioned all the creative energy he adored in his neighborhood. He mentioned people like filmmaker/actor Spike Lee, and many other artists of different types. Despite all the inspiration the neighborhood still had its crime. He noted the only time he was robbed was when he mistakenly left his door unlocked. The thief took his VCR, but most of all his satin Soul Train jacket with his name embossed on the label; he says that still bothers him till this day.

While living in Forte Greene George learned what kind of what kind of writer he was. He wasn’t just a inspiration he realized that he was mentor and a teacher. Later he became a hands on mentor collaborating with younger artists and critiquing screen plays, essays, or recordings. At the end he tells us his important life lesson to not to measure yourself by sudden success or rapid failure but by the body of your work.