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Spirit of Harlem: A Portrait of America's Most Exciting Neighborhood
The creative team behind the smash hit Crowns:Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats returns with a glorious tour of the spirit of Harlem—a collection of fifty stunning black-and-white photographs and unforgettable interviews that capture the heart and soul of one of the most famous and vibrant neighborhoods in the world.
Harlem, long known as the epicenter of black cultural life in America, is undergoing a radical change. An unprecedented infusion of hundreds of millions of dollars in development capital is revitalizing the community and transforming a cityscape marred by decades of poverty. In a striking show of exuberance, upscale shops are materializing in once-abandoned buildings, new homes are popping up in vacant lots, and sheets of glass twinkle in place of grim, boarded-up windows. The economic renewal has lured a host of new people to the neighborhood—doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, and even a former president. But it has also posed a threat to many residents who have lived through the worst of times and now fear that they will lose their homes and livelihoods as boom times sweep in.
Spirit of Harlem documents this extraordinary period of transition through the words and faces of newcomers and longtime residents alike. There are reminiscences of Harlem during the 1920s through the 1960s, stories of friends and families gathering at churches, in local shops, and on the streets, and thoughts on what the future holds for the neighborhood.
Millions of tourists visit Harlem each year, and many people in the United States can trace their roots to this legendary area or have read about its remarkable history and impact on American life and culture. In more than fifty stunning portraits and essays, Spirit of Harlem brings all its splendor, rancor, drama, and glamour vividly to life.
The voices of Spirit of Harlem :
“The minute you step out your door, everything in Harlem is in your face. There is a beauty and a poetry in all that . . .” —Lana Turner, real estate broker
“Bubba and me thought Harlem was Heaven, all the lights and the sights. I asked my aunt, ‘Where do all the white people live?’” —Rev. Betty Neal
“When I came up from the subway, I said, ‘Oh man, I'm lost!’ But then I saw the Apollo and it blew me away. I said, ‘Wow, this is it! I’m in Harlem!’ I had never been to Harlem before, but I just knew I belonged here.” —Bryan Collier, author and artist
Harlem, long known as the epicenter of black cultural life in America, is undergoing a radical change. An unprecedented infusion of hundreds of millions of dollars in development capital is revitalizing the community and transforming a cityscape marred by decades of poverty. In a striking show of exuberance, upscale shops are materializing in once-abandoned buildings, new homes are popping up in vacant lots, and sheets of glass twinkle in place of grim, boarded-up windows. The economic renewal has lured a host of new people to the neighborhood—doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, and even a former president. But it has also posed a threat to many residents who have lived through the worst of times and now fear that they will lose their homes and livelihoods as boom times sweep in.
Spirit of Harlem documents this extraordinary period of transition through the words and faces of newcomers and longtime residents alike. There are reminiscences of Harlem during the 1920s through the 1960s, stories of friends and families gathering at churches, in local shops, and on the streets, and thoughts on what the future holds for the neighborhood.
Millions of tourists visit Harlem each year, and many people in the United States can trace their roots to this legendary area or have read about its remarkable history and impact on American life and culture. In more than fifty stunning portraits and essays, Spirit of Harlem brings all its splendor, rancor, drama, and glamour vividly to life.
The voices of Spirit of Harlem :
“The minute you step out your door, everything in Harlem is in your face. There is a beauty and a poetry in all that . . .” —Lana Turner, real estate broker
“Bubba and me thought Harlem was Heaven, all the lights and the sights. I asked my aunt, ‘Where do all the white people live?’” —Rev. Betty Neal
“When I came up from the subway, I said, ‘Oh man, I'm lost!’ But then I saw the Apollo and it blew me away. I said, ‘Wow, this is it! I’m in Harlem!’ I had never been to Harlem before, but I just knew I belonged here.” —Bryan Collier, author and artist
232 pages, Hardcover
First published November 18, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 3, 2019
It doesn't matter where you are in the world: if you've heard of New York, you've heard of Harlem.
Spirit of Harlem: A Portrait of America's Most Exciting Neighborhood captures in black and white portraits the spirit of a place long known as the epicenter of black culture with a camera's flash and a patient ear. The stories inside offer up the rare opportunity to celebrate and rage and laugh and morn with the everyday people of one of New York's most memorable neighborhoods.
Spirit of Harlem: A Portrait of America's Most Exciting Neighborhood captures in black and white portraits the spirit of a place long known as the epicenter of black culture with a camera's flash and a patient ear. The stories inside offer up the rare opportunity to celebrate and rage and laugh and morn with the everyday people of one of New York's most memorable neighborhoods.
August 3, 2015
A bit dated in 2015, but still a wonderful first-hand and personal account of Harlem to those living there. The book brought smiles and laughs out loud together with heartfelt and serious message directly from the people who live here. Great reading for new (and old) residents and those interested in this historic New York neighborhood. Serves as a forewarning to gentrification and urban change. On an aside: I was very happy to walk past Hats by Bunn - clearly surviving and thriving!
November 30, 2007
From the authors who published a book about black women in church hats, comes this work along a similar vein. The authors talked to people who live, work, and love Harlem, shooting their portrait alongside their photos. A beautiful work that captures the essence of what Harlem means to the authors and their subjects.
November 10, 2007
home is where the art is :)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews