the history of: harlem. harlem is a neighborhood in the new york city borough of manhattan, long...
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The History Of:
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African-American residential, cultural, major African-American residential, cultural,
and business center. and business center.
In 1658 the Dutch, under the leadership of In 1658 the Dutch, under the leadership of Peter Stuyvesant, were the first Europeans to Peter Stuyvesant, were the first Europeans to settle in Harlem. They named the area New settle in Harlem. They named the area New Haarlem, after the Dutch city of Haarlem.Haarlem, after the Dutch city of Haarlem.
Peter Stuyvesant
From the late 1700’s to the mid 1800’s, From the late 1700’s to the mid 1800’s, Harlem was a thriving agricultural Harlem was a thriving agricultural
community with many large country community with many large country estates including Hamilton Grange, the estates including Hamilton Grange, the
estate of Alexander Hamilton.estate of Alexander Hamilton.
Dutch Settlement – Harlem (1700’s)
Hamilton Grange
Between 1850 and 1870 the soil in Harlem Between 1850 and 1870 the soil in Harlem became depleted and crop yields fell. As a became depleted and crop yields fell. As a
result many of the large estates were result many of the large estates were auctioned off. Harlem became so impoverished auctioned off. Harlem became so impoverished that it was taken over by the city of New York that it was taken over by the city of New York
in 1873.in 1873.
Poverty stricken Harlem in 1873
The New York and Harlem Railroad was established in The New York and Harlem Railroad was established in 1831 to link the city with the suburbs. When elevated 1831 to link the city with the suburbs. When elevated
railroads extending into Harlem were completed in 1889, railroads extending into Harlem were completed in 1889, urban development occurred rapidly. New town houses urban development occurred rapidly. New town houses and apartment buildings were rushed into construction and apartment buildings were rushed into construction
and it was thought that Harlem would become the center and it was thought that Harlem would become the center of fashion, wealth, and culture.of fashion, wealth, and culture.
The New York and Harlem Railroad
Elevated Train Construction
The Harlem Opera House
New Apartment Houses (1900)
During the late 1800’s and early During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, large numbers of the black 1900’s, large numbers of the black
population moved from the south to population moved from the south to northern cities such as New York.northern cities such as New York.
What do you think would cause this What do you think would cause this mass migration into northern cities?mass migration into northern cities?
The migration of record numbers of blacks to northern The migration of record numbers of blacks to northern cities was caused by bigotry and racial violence in the cities was caused by bigotry and racial violence in the south along with opportunities for employment in the south along with opportunities for employment in the war industries of the north at the beginning of World war industries of the north at the beginning of World
War I.War I.
Harlem at the beginning of the "Great Migration" of African-Americans to Harlem, about 1915-1920.The sign reads: "APARTMENTS TO LET. For Respectable Colored Families Only"
Harlem - 1920
Over-building and a delay in the construction of the Over-building and a delay in the construction of the subway led to a real estate market crash in the early subway led to a real estate market crash in the early 1900’s. A black entrepreneur named Philip Payton, Jr. 1900’s. A black entrepreneur named Philip Payton, Jr. founded the Afro-American Realty Company. He began founded the Afro-American Realty Company. He began
buying abandoned properties and encouraged blacks to buying abandoned properties and encouraged blacks to move north into Harlem. Racial tension due to anti-black move north into Harlem. Racial tension due to anti-black riots that occurred in 1900 and 1905 also contributed to riots that occurred in 1900 and 1905 also contributed to
the migration of the black population into Harlem.the migration of the black population into Harlem.
Philip Payton, Jr.
At first, the white residents of Harlem At first, the white residents of Harlem resisted the movement of blacks into resisted the movement of blacks into Harlem by refusing to sell or rent to Harlem by refusing to sell or rent to them. This strategy failed because them. This strategy failed because black businessmen continued to offer black businessmen continued to offer low rents to the black community. By low rents to the black community. By 1920, Central Harlem was a 1920, Central Harlem was a predominantly black neighborhood.predominantly black neighborhood.
1930
1911
1920
During the 1920’s and 30’s, Harlem flourished with During the 1920’s and 30’s, Harlem flourished with cultural and artistic expression. This period became cultural and artistic expression. This period became
known as…known as…
During this time black political leaders and artists used their creativity to show America and the world that Blacks were intellectual, artistic and humane and should be treated with respect and equality.
Although night clubs such as The Cotton Club, The Apollo Although night clubs such as The Cotton Club, The Apollo Theater and The Savoy featured black entertainers, the Theater and The Savoy featured black entertainers, the audience was made up of wealthy white patrons from audience was made up of wealthy white patrons from
outside of Harlem, black customers were excluded. Black outside of Harlem, black customers were excluded. Black entertainers and workers were paid wages far below their entertainers and workers were paid wages far below their
white counterparts or were not even paid at all.white counterparts or were not even paid at all.
Bessie Smith Cab Calloway Louis Armstrong Billy Holiday
Duke Ellington Count Basie Fats Waller Dizzie Gillespie
W.E.B. DuBois Civil Rights Activist Alain Locke-Philosopher
Father of the Harlem Renaissance
Charles S. Johnson Sociologist
Carter G. Woodson Historian
Marcus Garvey Jr. Publisher/Journalist
William H. JohnsonChain Gang Village Houses
Aaron Douglas Into Human Bondage Song of the Towers
Countee Cullen Poet Dorothy West
Writer
Georgia Douglass Johnson Poet
Sterling A. Brown Writer/Poet
One of the most important writers and thinkers of the One of the most important writers and thinkers of the Harlem Renaissance was Langston Hughes. Hughes's Harlem Renaissance was Langston Hughes. Hughes's
creative genius was influenced by his life in Harlem. His creative genius was influenced by his life in Harlem. His literary works helped shape American literature and politics. literary works helped shape American literature and politics. Hughes, like others active in the Harlem Renaissance, had a Hughes, like others active in the Harlem Renaissance, had a
strong sense of racial pride. Through his poetry, novels, strong sense of racial pride. Through his poetry, novels, plays, essays, and children's books, he promoted equality, plays, essays, and children's books, he promoted equality, condemned racism and injustice, and celebrated African condemned racism and injustice, and celebrated African
American culture, humor, and spirituality.American culture, humor, and spirituality.