The walking tour of Harlem was a fascinating experience. I have always been interested in learning of occurrences in history, even more so intrigued when that history is of somewhere that is so close to home. The tour began at a large building regarded as the Schomburg. Inside there is a public library, in addition, a room with photos of significant figures and moments from throughout the early history of Harlem. The guide began with explaining some of the photos mounted on the walls; telling of grand parades on the streets of Harlem, an all-Black military regiment named The Harlem Hellfighters and about the talented photographer Austin Hansen. During the walk I was shown an area of Harlem where during the 1920s there were some notable clubs in operation at the time, such as Savoy which was an impressive establishment which contained a very large and well-maintained dance floor. On the back half of the walk, some other noteworthy locations were visited. To name a few, an area termed as Striver’s Row, the location of Adam Clayton Powell Jr.’s “what’s in your hand” speech and ending at the legendary Apollo Theater. I am very glad I got to go on this walking tour and was able to absorb lots of information about Harlem that was almost all new to me.

Savoy: Home of Happy Feet