The Harlems and Morningside Heights

Waking up this morning I was a little worried about exploring Harlem because I’ve usually only heard about negative aspects about Harlem including crime and poverty, but I was sure that Mike was going to show us a side of Harlem that we do not always hear about. Once we all met up in Penn Station we took the subway uptown to East Harlem. Harlem is the most famous center of African-American life and culture in the U.S. African-American blacks make up most of the population (BG, 437.)

            Our first stop was to the Museum of the City of New York. The Museum of the City of New York offers exhibitions that explore the city’s complex history from its early das as a Dutch colony to its present state (BG, 376). We first watched a 25-minute short film that gave us an overview of the city’s growth from its beginnings as a struggling settlement to the present. I found the film pretty interesting going through the decades seeing how much has changed over time, its crazy to think that New York was once just a whole lot of open land. I learned that Wall Street got its name because there was an actual wall there to keep invaders out, and Canal Street used to actually be a canal! 

After the film we quickly looked through the Activist of New York exhibit, which showed all the different protest New Yorkers have gone through over the years. I was able to connect most with the gay and lesbian civil rights protests because that is an issue I feel very strong about. I believe everyone no matter their sexual orientation deserves to be treated with the same amount of dignity and respect.

            After the Museum we walked around El Barrio also known as Spanish Harlem, because of its large Puerto Rican and Latino population (BG, 437). 

                   Our first stop was to a store that offered help with special medical remedies. To simply put it, it was a voodoo shop.  I really enjoyed going into this store and having the owner talk to us because I have never been to a place like this. The owner explained that his store offers help to people that they might not be able to get at a normal doctor. He emphasized that most of all his store offers hope to those who need it most. Unfortunately his store is being pushed out by gentrification causing the rent to go up, but luckily he has found a new, yet smaller, store to move into. Looking around I saw all different kinds of medical remedies, candles, jewelry, and even some kinds of witchcraft to hex people with. I ended up buying a skull bracelet that stand for courage and I’ve worn it everyday since! After we left the store we walked downs the streets to admire some street art.

            Before we could look at any art some crazy man starting yelling at our class. It was a pretty scary experience and I thought Mike was going to get into a fight, but he handled it very well. The first piece of artwork we looked at was called “Spirit of East Harlem ” done by Hank Prussing and Manny Vega. This mural depicts people from the neighborhood coming together and taking place in various activates.  I really liked how the mural took up the whole wall of a building. I Think street art is my favorite kind of art to look at because it holds a different value that people can connect to then modern art at a museum does. Next we looked at a small garden that carried the theme of fertility and empowering women. In the center of the garden there was a fountain in the shape of fallopian tubes, and a mural on the wall of strong women throughout history. I found this garden to be very peaceful and a great place one could go if they wanted to just sit and think.

 Finally we looked at some glass and stonework also done by Manny Vega. He was currently working on apiece called Espirito, and the most exciting part was we got to meet him! He explained to us that after he revels the art it is no longer his, but is the communities. After all of the art we have seen in the class it was a real treat being able to actually talk to the artist and get his perspective on their creations. After viewing the art we broke for lunch. I ended up getting some delicious chicken quesadillas.

            After lunch we walked through the northern park of Central Park. We entered at the Conservatory Garden, the parks only formal garden. The Conservatory Garden, with its magnificent displays of blooms and fine collects of perennials, draws people to admire the plants, contemplate nature, and even get married (BG, 297). While walking through the garden I though to myself how beautiful it was, I really enjoyed all of the flowers and fountains, my first thought was that this would be a very nice place to take wedding pictures.

            We then had a walking tour of Harlem, looking around a felt out of place and even felt some hostilities from the people in Harlem, to say the least I felt uncomfortable and wasn’t really looking forward for this tour. Our tour guide Tim seemed very knowledgeable about the historic sights in Harlem. One of the first statues he showed us was one of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. located on the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building at the corner of 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard in the Harlem. The 12-foot bronze statute, honors civil rights activist and Harlem congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.  Called Higher Ground, the monument by sculptor Branly Cadet was inspired by a quote from the late minister and politician: “Press forward at all times, climbing forward toward that higher ground of the harmonious society that shapes the laws of man to the laws of God.” 

Along the tour Tim showed us some of the Brownstones and explained how the City buildings are famous for two things, fire escapes and stoops. Tim explained how stoops were an important part of people lives because they were where they hang out to socialize.  Thinking about it I could recall from movies I’ve seen taking place in Brooklyn people are always hanging out on their stoop. As we walked through the neighborhood we saw a camera crew that was using the house to film a T.V. show I found that to be pretty cool. Our final sight was The Harriet Tubman sculpture, designed by Alison Saar shows stylized portraits of “anonymous passengers” of the Underground Railroad in Tubman’s skirt, some of which were inspired by West African “passport masks.” Around the granite base of the monument are bronze tiles alternately depicting events in Tubman’s life and traditional quilting patterns.

            Even though we walked a lot today the hardest part was yet to come. Climbing up all those stairs was hard work, and at the top I was out of breath. At the top of the stairs we were in Morningside Heights. The area is known for its educational and religious institutions, Columbia University and St. John Divine among them (BG, 417). Walking towards the subway we got to pass Columbia University and I saw how nice this school really was. I could only imagine how expensive tuition is.

            Overall Harlem has been my least favorite place we have visited, I don’t think I will be coming back here on my own. Even though I did not enjoy my experience I did learn a lot about the history.