Being a girl from the South Bronx, living just three stops away from Harlem on the Bronx bound two and/or five train, I never really got to see Harlem the way I did up until this project. I used to work in Harlem during my senior year in high school in a store called Rainbow, which was located just a block away from the Apollo. I knew everything there was to know about Apollo’s history and its importance but there was a part of Harlem I really never got to know; a very important aspect as in matter of fact: The People. Working in retail in Harlem meant that I clocked in at 9AM and closed down the store. Having a schedule like this did not give me time to to interact with the people in Harlem other then the customers that came in and out of the store. I went into Harlem to just photograph its important historical structures for this assignment. As I was capturing an image of a couple of the many brownstones in Harlem, two elder men said good afternoon and asked me what was it that I was doing. I started speaking and soon enough we all were having a conversation. This is when I realized that Harlem was a community that is very different from the South Bronx. As I was observing, in Harlem everyone seems to know each other, and they greet each other as they passed one another. This was so weird to me. Where I am from, many people just stick to themselves and just greet those they know. Now I see Harlem differently. It is not just a shopping district to me anymore; now I have met some people that made me see it in a completely different way: a community that welcomes you with open arms.
The Support. Brownstones are the architectures that Harlem are known for; they support what Harlem is all about. Much in the same way the people of Harlem are supporting a certain candidate in the upcoming presidential election. Just take a peek through the window in the image and you’ll know who I am talking about.
Long Time Friends. Left: Percival Burke, has lived in Harlem for 54 years. He came here from Trinidad. Right: Teddy Smith, has lived in Harlem for 40 years. They have been friends since for quite some time now.
The past, the present, and what’s to come. Thousands of famous artists have performed in the Apollo; even the not so famous. It is still standing today and I am sure it has many more years to go.
Power of the People. Left: Edgar J. Ridley, a business man in Harlem. Middle: Dr. Jack Felder, known for his scientific findings and is very well respected in Harlem. Right: Nova, Dr. Felder’s son. Talking to them, I found out that these three men stand up for what they believe in no matter what the obstacles may be. This is what made them succeed and be where they are today.
“Here, we all come together” St. Martin’s Church is one of the many churches in Harlem. When I met Percival and Teddy, Percival asked me, “Did you take a picture of the place where they all come together?” I knew he was talking about a place of worship and I said “Yes, I took a picture of one of them, St. Martin’s.” I thought his quote for what a church is was so impressive that I just had to use it for the caption.