Harlem Week has become a living tribute to Harlem’s history of greats and reveals how the neighborhood earned its reputation as a “Black Mecca” of the…
In 1974, Harlem’s deserted streets and tumbledown tenements told the story of a neighborhood left behind. Decades of disinvestment had culminated in a mass exodus known as urban flight and residents watched as their wealthier, more educated counterparts left the New York City neighborhood in droves.
In the 1970s, Harlem demanded more than an ordinary festival, if it wanted a resurrection. Those who remained in Harlem during urban flight — mostly low-income, Black families — would turn on their televisions to constant despair: crime reports, bleak statistics and reporters who called their home a “sinking ship.”Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.
“About two or three weeks later, Percy Sutton called us all and said it was such a successful day,” said Lloyd Williams, one of Harlem Day’s co-founders and the current president of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. “It meant so much to the other cities that were being deserted in Detroit and Baltimore, Washington and Chicago, that they asked if we would do it again on an annual basis.”
This year's celebration featured entertainment, including a headlining set by hip-hop artist Fabolous, a tribute to Harry Belafonte and Broadway performances. Other concerts showcased jazz, reggae, R&B and gospel traditions nurtured in Harlem, alongside hundreds of food and merchandise vendors. “The neighborhood was blighted,” recalled Malik Yoba, an actor born in the Bronx in 1967 who grew up in Harlem and spent days playing in the dirt of vacant lots. Yoba attended school in the Upper East Side with peers who had country homes upstate in the Hamptons.
Yoba, now 56, built a career as an actor showcasing Harlem to audiences across the nation. His experiences with housing inequality also fueled his passion for real estate.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ready to Run: The Percy Sutton Harlem 5K comes to Harlem Week this SaturdayThousands of runners and walkers of all skill levels will participate in the Percy Sutton Harlem 5K Run this Saturday, Aug. 10.
Read more »
50 years on, Harlem Week shows how a NYC neighborhood went from crisis to renaissanceIn 1974, Harlem’s deserted streets told the story of a neighborhood left behind
Read more »
Senior citizens reflect on 50 years of Harlem WeekHarlem Week held its Senior Citizens Day at the State Office Building on Friday while celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Read more »
JAZZ NOTES: Harlem Week, Latin Jazz, Jazzmobile, St. Nick’s Jam, Valley JazzIn the summer of 1974, Harlem Week was birthed as Harlem Day, a one-day event, as an effort to create a positive force that would unify the Harlem residents.
Read more »
A selection of Harlem Week 2024 events to enjoyHarlem Week began 50 years ago as a one-day event called Harlem Day. The goals were building a sense of community and bolstering the local economy.
Read more »
Black women show up for Harris in HarlemBlack women in Harlem joined the growing wave of enthusiasm for Kamala Harris’ bid for the presidency at a rally in Harlem.
Read more »