Category: History
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An Address to You from The First Lady
Michelle Obama, First Lady of The United States of America: An American Street Mural in Harlem Harlem Park to Park – https://harlemparktopark.org/ – has a great teaser video out on the project to create the Black Lives Matter mural on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd this past summer. The plan is to expand the project…
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Film Studio
The Harlem African Burial Ground development project has been put on hold and as a consequence, the abandoned MTA bus depot that currently occupies the site remains shuttered. In the past, however, this site has also been the location for a film studio. The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio was located between 126/127th and 2nd Avenue and…
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Mail In Your Vote and Honor Wesley A. Williams
The image (above) from The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is of Wesley A. Williams, a Black mail carrier/driver from 1915. Wesley was photographed under the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, a notoriously racist American President who re:segregated the Post Office (from Vox – https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2015/11/20/9766896/woodrow-wilson-racist): Easily the worst part of Wilson’s record as president…
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Black Parade Harlem
A great video with amazing production values and choreography is out from HarlemParade.org Harlem Parade notes that: The Harlem Parade initiative launched via HARLEMPARADE.ORG on September 17, 2020 with an innovative protest art video – Black Parade Harlem. Led by Harlem native and principal dancer for Beyoncé, Dnay Baptiste, and Founder and Creative Director that produce unique content and event…
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Nieuwe Haarlem > Lancaster > Harlem
Harlem has, since the Dutch settlement of Manhattan, been known by 3 names. Nieuwe Haarlem, Lancaster, and Harlem. The name Lancaster was imposed (unsuccessfully) by Richard Nicholls, the governor of New York, in 1666, during the brief period between May 1688 and April 1689, during which New York was part of the Dominion of New…
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WTF Should I Do?
Living in a blue corner of a reliably blue state can be frustrating when looking at the electoral college system which rewards states that seem to have more cows than people. DemCast is a great outlet for the “WTF can I do?” question that bedevils many of us who would like to engage in this…
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1619 and 1658
The New York Times and its 1619 Project has brought forward the centrality of Black Americans to United States history to many of its readers and beyond. The core thesis of the 1619 Project: “aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very…
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2020 Debate Tonight!
A number of HNBA members had a great time in June of 2019 when we joined the first night of the Presidential Primary Debates in Harlem, NYC. Tonight it’s the (first) Election 2020 debate! Instagram: @newyorkforbiden2020 / Facebook: @newyorkforbiden / Twitter: @newyorkforbidenhttps://www.mobilize.us/joebiden/event/331934/ Our democracy, humanity, and sanity are on the ballot this November. #NewYorkStrong #ItsUpToUs Cemeteries of…
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19th Century Views of East Harlem
Some of the images of East Harlem’s shanty towns that were soon swallowed by the grid and development, are remarkably striking. This one is from 1870: And is looking at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 117th Street. This photo (above) is not located, but dated 1894 and called East Harlem Shanty town. Debate Watch…
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Harlem in Inwood
I used to live in Inwood in the ’90s and walked past this Apple Bank regularly. Until a sign was removed recently, I had no idea that the building was originally a Harlem Savings Bank branch. The classic Art Deco building was the creation of architects Halsey, McCormack and Helmer from the 1940’s. Note that Harlem…
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Ruth
The Smile New images and marketing material from The Smile. Luxury at Lex/126. The design of the building slopes inward as it rises upward, providing great views of the Harlem River and Manhattan skyline. The cantilevering footprint over 125th Street allows for a mix of apartment sizes layouts, while the facade’s interlocking checkerboard pattern gives every unit…