Knowing Where You're Going: Harlem, NYC

Harlem is one of New York City's most famous and historic neighbourhoods. Originally occupied by Dutch immigrants, it has been a predominantly African American neighbourhood for over a century, as black people migrated to the northern cities, fleeing from the harsh segregation in the South.

When I was growing up, I knew of it from the Harlem Globetrotters, a world famous exhibition basketball team. They're still going today.

I also remember U2's 'Angel of Harlem', a tribute to the late great jazz singer Billie Holiday, performer of the haunting Civil Rights protest song 'Strange Fruit'.

Turns out there was a lot of great music that came out of Harlem, much of it the product of the gospel tradition. Here's an example, from the Harlem Gospel Choir. This is not unlike the sort of musical experience you can expect when we get down to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta:

Of course, there's lots of other reasons, musical and otherwise, that Harlem is famous. There's the Harlem Shake dance (although the one you know is probably not the actual Harlem Shake). Many influential Hip Hop artists were born and raised in Harlem.

It's the home of the Apollo theatre, scene of many famous concerts and live recordings:

Architecturally, there's the distinctive 'brownstone' houses:

Harlem has at times been known for crime, poverty and poor education statistics. This is partly why Malcolm X's message of black empowerment and high moral values found a large and receptive audience in Harlem. Here he is speaking there in 1963.

What we'll see and do
We are staying in a YHA Hostel on the Upper West Side not too far from Harlem and very handy to Central Park. On our first morning in NYC, we'll be taking a guided walking tour of historic Harlem with Harlem Heritage Tours.