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.