BP #3 Research on Harlem - Lina

Throughout the twentieth century, Harlem has served as the home and key inspiration to generations of novelists, poets, musicians, and actors. The pace of New York City, the blend of backgrounds of the people who settled in Harlem, and the difficulties associated with living in Harlem were among the experiences that found expression in theater, fiction, and music, among other art forms.

			Harlem has been home to a variety of ethnic groups, black and white, since the turn of the twentieth century. As the ethnic landscape has changed, cultural and religious buildings have been reshaped to serve the evolving populations. Harlem has been called a state of mind, but it is also a real place, remembered in oral histories, described in photographs, and evaluated by scholars.

Although it was the largest black community in New York for only a brief time, Harlem has long served as the crucible of political action and the home territory for many of last century's African American politicians. Personal experience and scholarly analysis offer reflection on what gives Harlem the edge.