Harlem settled in 1654 and was called Haarelm Of The Netherlands name after a Dutch Village in Holland. In the 1700s the wealthy people had their getaway homes or country homes in Harlem . George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and many more had their country homes in Harlem. Harlem was the Jewish and German community before it became the African American community. It was the Irish and Italian community; as well. East Harlem was called Italian Harlem in the 1920s until the 1950s.Now its called SpaHa( Spanish Harlem) .
In late 1800s David H. King (who was the most prominent building contactor in NYC; worked on the Washington Arch and the Pedestal of the Statue of Liberty) started building High end townhouses and apartment buildings for the wealthy in Harlem; because a plan for a new elevated railroad was in the making. During that time Harlem was still considered the countryside and the wealthy people did not want to move there. Kings model houses in 1891 - 1893 now called Strivers Row was one of the communities built by Mckim Mead & White in west Harlem on 138th st and 139th st. between Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard and Fredrick Douglas Boulevard. In the 1900s NYC offered the African American Community the option of moving uptown in Harlem even though the rent would cost more, The African American Community agreed, not only here in New York City but African American Communities all over the United States started flocking to Harlem(in which was called Heaven). That's what they called Harlem; Heaven or The Black Mecca. Harelm is actually the center of Manhattan ; the center of anything has the power of everything.
In the 1700 -1800s the African American communities in NYC were; Staten Island, Tribeca, Hells Kitchen(Clinton section of midtown)and Cornelia st. in Greenwich Village. Later in the 1800s, the Upper East Side.
In 1900s Harlem became a place where the African Americans could be free to just; BE. The Black Renaissance started artist and civil rights leaders were building and realizing creativity within themselves by expressing their blessings through music, dance, visual art, poetry and/or political Justice. Mac Beth, the Black Opera House, Langston Hughes, jazz etc., started here in Harlem (Heaven). During the depression things started getting bad in Harlem. So, many of the man went into the military during WWI, WWII and Vietnam , their families were losing their homes and/or had to shack up as if they did during the tenements living in downtown and midtown in the1700 - 1800s. Once the economy retrieved its worth in Harlem; that's when Black Power begin in Harlem what it is, can you dick it, and etc. From the 1950s-1990s Drugs took a hold on Harlem; mainly because most of the man coming home from Vietnam were hooked on heroin and/or Alcholics from overseas and the Mob took hold of Harlem; I mean the mob was big in Harlem. The people in the community became chemical dependent. But not all, still African Americans owned their own homes(brownstones) and businesses. Alot of celebrities are Harlemites; like P.Diddy, Denzel Washington, Keith Sweat , Kurtis Blow , Alicia Keyes, Tony Reily, Al Pacino and many many more.
253 west 125th Street; is the One and Only Apollo Theatre opened in 1934 and was called Music Hall for the African Americans Performers. If any African American and/or Latino wanted to make it Big in the entertainment business they had to perform at the Apollo on Amateur Night.The Apollo Theater was known as Where stars are born and legends are made.
The Apollo at first was called Hurtig & Seaman's New Burlesque Theatre and was not intented for African Americans when it was built in 1913-1914. During the despair and low attendance of audience Sidney Cohen reopened it in 1934 as a venue for African American Performers. The Apollo Theatre now has a Legend Hall Of Fame its right in front of the Theatre enterance sidewalk its brass square plates with names of Legends like; Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Smokey robinson, Bill Eckstine, Gladys Knight, The Pips, Michael Jackson, Quincey Jones, Chaka Khan and Pattie Labelle.
Harlems 125th street is the place to shop , from the west side to the TriBoro Bridge on the east side; which will take you to the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens(BBQ). In the 1980s when NYC widened 125th street; that was the clue that Harlem was about to Change into what it is today.The world is not about black and white; its about Love. That's what Harlem is about; Love. If you ever get a chance to visit NYC please go to Harlem; walk 5 blocks east, west, south and north.Because the people in Harlem want to show you, Love. Every thing Martin Luther King and Malcolm X had wriiten and spoken about is happening now, in Harlem.
My two aunts(Zale and Pearl may they RIP) from Palestine,TX moved to Harlem in the late 1930s. My Grandmother moved to Harlem in 1960s, settling on 138th st. and later moved to Glen Cove New York were my Parents met, married and had Me. Lv U New York!!
I know you must be saying to yourself how do I get to Harlem? Hop On Hop Off the double decker buses which also provides you with an Professional license Tour Guide to assist you to those destination and more. You Hop On and Off Uptown, Downtown, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Cruise around miss liberty and Ellis Island all the way up to the United Nations. Remember to: Tip your Tour Guide.
If not do it now, right now or before you book you next trip or trip to New York City, this will save you money or must I say, you will have more money to shop. So Click Here
For Private Guided Tours email me tammaymorton@lvunewyork.com
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