Save the Date!

Posted on August 8, 2022August 6, 2022 by Harlem Shill

On September 13th (Tuesday) at 6:00, we’ll gather at East 129th Street and 5th Avenue (south-east corner) to celebrate the unveiling of Ann Petry Place.

The acclaimed African-American author, Ann Petry, lived at 2 East 129th Street when she engaged in much of her activist writing for African American newspapers such as The Amsterdam News and The People’s Voice, and The Crisis. 2 East 129th Street was also her home when she wrote the seminal novel: The Street.

This novel, The Street, was the first novel by an African-American woman to sell a staggering 1.5 million copies. With time, The Street has become a canonical text that continues to be widely read throughout the United States as a literary exploration of the grinding and oppressive impact that systemic racism and sexism in mid-century America had on Harlem residents, and African-American women in particular.

Ann Petry stands as a crucial bridge between activists and writers from the Harlem Renaissance with those of Harlem’s Civil Rights and Black Power movements of the 1950’s and beyond.

We hope you will plan on attending the unveiling and meet Liz Petry, Ann Petry’s daughter, as well as a number of your local officials.

Bethel Gospel Assembly’s 119th Street Side

A dedication to the school that is now the Bethel Gospel Assembly Church, on East 119th Street.

Below is a view of the church from Marcus Garvey Park (looking south, across 120th Street:

Precinct Meeting – Focus on The Rise in Crime

Posted on February 11, 2022February 10, 2022 by Harlem Shill

Kioka Jackson, the president of the 25th Precinct’s Community Council writes:

Good Afternoon Neighbors and Friends,
I hope you all are doing great. I wanted to invite you to join us IN PERSON for our February 2022 meeting. I have been getting a multitude of calls and emails about the current events in and around our neighborhood and want to invite you to discuss what’s going on, what is being done, and how we can help.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss your public safety concerns with the Commanding Officer, his team of Officers, along with other community stakeholders with the mission to make our neighborhood safe. Please be advised that the meeting will not be at the Precinct. In order to have the ability to safely socially distance we are using a space that can accommodate a larger number of people. Details are as follows.

Meeting Details:

Wednesday, February 16, 20226:00 PM (Meeting will begin on time)at Bethel Gospel Assembly 2-26 East 120th Street (Between Madison and Fifth) – right across from Marcus Garvey Park
You will be required to wear a mask. There will be some available at the front door if you need one. Upon arrival, your temperature will be taken and you will be asked to sign in before being directed to the meeting room. Please click on the link and fill the questionnaire by Wednesday at 3:00PM.
https://forms.gle/y8icpU7NYm2Q56sH8

Hope to see you all next week.

Have an awesome day

Kioka Jackson

The Gay Harlem Renaissance

Scholars of the Harlem Renaissance point out that acknowledging the queer culture and nightlife of the Harlem Renaissance is essential in order to paint a full picture of the time, queer history, and Harlem itself.

Additionally, looking at the thriving LGBTQ+ scene in Uptown New York helps to reveal rich cultural contributions by (frequently) overlooked queer artists and writers of the Harlem Renaissance.