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Harlem, the
area bounded by 110th and 178th Streets, was originally settled
by Dutch farmers in the mid-1600s. By the early 1800s, residential
development of the area had begun and western Harlem became
a fashionable, middle-class white suburb. When the bottom
fell out of the real estate market at the beginning of the
1900s, African-American families moved into the “decent
housing” that was being abandoned. In the 1920s, Harlem
became world famous as a center for black arts and culture,
where jazz greats like Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway performed
at the Cotton Club. Today, the area is divided ethnically
between Spanish Harlem (known as “El Barrio”), located
east of Fifth Ave., and African-American Harlem, located north
of St. Nicholas Ave. and 125th Street. The beautiful brownstone
churches and cultural centers are revitalizing this historic
area that is still considered “Manhattan’s ghetto.”
Don't Miss:
- The Apollo Theatre – showcase for African-American
performers' talents
- Shabazz Market – outdoor market named in honor
of civil rights activist Malcolm X’s widow
- Abyssinian Baptist Church – N.Y.’s oldest
African-American congregation
- Schomburg Center for Research – contains the world’s
largest archive relating to African-American heritage
Links:
http://www.nku.edu/~diesmanj/harlem.html
http://www.apollotheater.com/about.shtm |
