Harlem Week was organized 37 years ago by the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce as Harlem Day, a 
one-day celebration of the rich economic, political, artistic and cultural history of the community. It was also intended as an effort to counter some of the negative images of Harlem and lift the spirits of its citizens.
Since then, Harlem Week has evolved into a month of street fairs, musical performances and sporting events. This year, more than 100 activities, including film screenings, restaurant specials, parties and an auto show are planned.
Following are some of the activities taking place at this year’s Harlem Week. Follow this link for a complete list.
- “A Great Day In Harlem” Sunday, July 31st
- NY City Economic Development Seminar Luncheon and Expo Thur., August 4th
- New York City Senior Citizens “Elders’ Jubilee” Tuesday, August 9th
- “Summer in the City”: “Uptown Saturday Nite” Saturday, August 20th
- The National Historic Black College Fair Saturday, August 20th
- New York City Children’s Festival – Part I: Saturday, August 20th
- HARLEM DAY Sunday, August 21st
- New York City Children’s Festival – Part II: Sunday, August 21st
- The Upper Manhattan Auto Show Sunday, August 21st
- New York City Health Fair & Expo Sunday, August 21st
- NY Family Health Walk-A-Thon Saturday, August 27th
Harlem Day will be celebrated on August 21st from noon until 7 p.m. with an auto show, music, vendors, a children’s festival, arts and crafts, food, etc.
Harlem Week 2011 ends on August 30th. However, two Amateur Night events at the Apollo Theater on August 31st and September 7th will be dedicated to Harlem Week.
Hope you’ll swing uptown and experience the festivities.
Enjoy!
I like the line-up of the agenda, where its all inclusive of everyone, including senior citizens. Yes, Harlem is rich with culture. I only know that as far as what I’ve read, however.
What’s the approximate population of people there? I understand it’s a high rent district since Clinton moved there. Was it like in Atlanta’s gentrification, where it was hard for citizens already living there to afford remaining there, as a result of suburbianites (?) moving back to the area?
Sounds like fun! Will you be going to any of these?
I’m enjoying your posts about New York.
I like the sound of children’s festivals part 1 and 2. So much fun, they had to split it into two.
There is an insane amount of thought and planning that goes into these events, and for a whole month! Are they free or low-cost?
We used to have the Sydney Carnivale which went for the month of January. Many of the activities were in the evening because January is HOT here, and in the daytime people like to lay on their loungeroom floors watching the cricket. I think they’ve changed Carnivale in recent years to be just one week.
Yes, most if not all the activities are free. I usually go to the same events every year though. This year, they had a lovely free concert that everyone was talking about for days after but I missed out on it.
Thanks, Narelle, I’m glad you’re enjoying my NY posts. More to come.
I’m definitely gonna try, Tony. Every year, I go to the same things. I really should try some new ones.
You’ve got it. Harlem’s also no longer black — http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/06/nyregion/06harlem.html?pagewanted=all
Current population about 200-250,000.
This is a bit controversial. It doesn’t have to be that because the city is predominant with people of color that crime is rampant. This is the conundrum that so bothers me with black folk. You know, not taking pride in who they are and what they can contribute.
My mother’s neighborhood is predominantly African American and most are retired. They take pride in their neighborhood and watch out for each other. To me, back when Harlem was not so mixed, it was about choice. Some people chose to represent it in a negative light. That’s a perpetual dilemma that blacks inflict on themselves.
I may not have the right perspective on this, so help me out, if you will. But I feel that if the city was infested with crime and if it took gentrification to change it, then black folk gave Harlem away. You are there, so correct/educate me with your perspective.
I started this reply 3 times! There’s so much to say about this. How much time do we have for the Harlem story?
There are so many factors but I guess the bottom line or what I’ve been able to sift through from the stories some Harlemites tell to what I’ve seen for myself (and I’m a newbie) is that the politicians gave it up. Rumor has it that some had a hand in its destruction and I guess it could be said they had an interest in it staying that way. Don’t know how true that is, but I’ve heard it from several people. And I tend to think that there might be a kernel of truth there somewhere.
When the 70s drugs and crime wave hit, most of Harlem and the Bronx, and parts of Brooklyn were deeply affected. Those who could, left. I think if they could have had a handle on things if they wanted to. We’ve had the same congressman representing Harlem for damn near 40 years, I don’t buy that he and the rest of the politicians and the mayor were powerless to do anything. For whatever reason, Harlem was left to slide. Some blocks deteriorated more than others. The beautiful brownstones became tenements, drug houses. The blocks that were less destroyed were easier to return to being habitable.
It could be because Columbia started to expand and buy up everything around it that caused people to pay attention. It could be because of the federal money that was available, I don’t know.
Personally, i wish for the Harlem of 10+ years ago but with the services that were lacking then. Even 10 years ago, there were only a few banks on 125th Street. Now there are several more. Most of the stores closed when it got dark and the corner stores that stayed open did so behind protective glass cubbyhole. There were only local cabs, the regular yellow cabs wouldn’t come uptown. Maybe I’m being naive but I think we could have had better control. But everyone saw dollar signs. Once Clinton accepted Rangel’s suggestion and moved here, we knew Harlem was gone.
It’s a mess and it’s sad. I also think we give in too quickly and give up too much. Sometimes, we have to dig in a fight.
But then again, maybe people just got too tired of fighting. It so wears down the spirit.
And we’re still living in a divided America.
I see…I did think along the lines of politics playing a part but I let the concept of the residents taking pride in their community and being proactive in keeping it livable override that.
Yes, I get a much better gist of the downfall now. Either way, it’s sad and makes a statement again for the divided Americas that we’ve lived in. smh
Yes, it remains divided, very much so. It’s more apparent in certain geographic locations, even Washington, D.C.
Especially in DC — used to live there.
It’s changing a bit, like Harlem. Was surprised when I heard that Wholefoods was going to be in Southeast. It seems the deal fell through though.