Harlem No More

I just learned of plans to build a new hotel in Harlem. There was a time when people were afraid to go to Harlem (people referring to non-minorities). And now Harlem is becoming the epic center of the lower east side. Million dollar real estate deals, businesses that would have never done business in that area are flocking to 125th St. Some people call it racist economics, others call it cultural suicide. It's gentrification at its worse or best, depending upon which side you are on. I love Harlem. I love what it stands for. I can go to Harlem and see African business owners, Black fashion, African artwork and just about anything culturally Black. An area known for its infamous Renaissance, the place that bred people like Langston Hughes, Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell, Dr. John Henrik Clarke and members of the Hip Hop community will become a distant memory. Harlem (or Soul Ha as of lately) will barely leave a mark as a place for people of color. And I am infuriated by it. I can get upset, discuss this amongst my conscious brothers and sisters and complain about the new comers who do not have a deep appreciation for Harlem but love the cheap rent and easy access to the transit system. I can talk about "The System" that allowed landlords to kick out tenants and business owners, but why? Harlem is important. But this is a capitalist society. Harlem is worth millions if not billions of dollars. People of color in influential positions should have stopped this. They should have brought the properties in Harlem instead of allowing the community to be turned over. But they didn't. The whole African American community should have come to Harlem's rescue. This whole thing makes me sick.

WITH THAT SAID...

Thank God Harlem is gentrifying! This is a hot topic. In fact, I am doing a research project on this very issue. Gentrification by definition is void of any racial derivatives. It’s about class. The good ol' Haves vs. the Have Nots. And in America, a lot of the Have Nots are African American. Gentrification can solely affect one race. If it did, the people being "negatively" affected by gentrification would not be able to use the race card. When I walk through Harlem, I see the demographic changes. I read the newspaper articles, and pass petitions set up by business owners. I think to myself, what a shame. But then again, this is America and we are a capitalist society. As I continue to think, I bring up a few points.

If I owned property in Harlem, property I was unable to sell for a high profit for "x" amount of years, I would probably jump at the opportunity to sell it for what property in Harlem is demanding. Secondly, there is a high demand for affordable housing. Here comes the problem. Affordable housing is a concept. What's affordable to one group maybe be unaffordable to the next. Renting a two bedroom apartment for $1,600.00 may seem outrageous, especially to low income residents. But to others, this is a steal. And if there is an abundant amount of people willing and able to pay $1,600.00 for a two bedroom apt., landlords will meet this demand. Face it. Business is business. Nobody wants to be displaced. But when a community does not own every business and every piece of property, when a community does not have solidarity, this will happen.

Next you have to wonder, who is moving into Harlem? Is it the filthy rich or just a bunch of White people who are always after anything Black (which is a stupid ideology)?

Many people moving into Harlem are middle- upper- middle class residents who aren't filthy rich. They may seem filthy rich to a lot of Harlem residents because they are in a higher social class. I honestly believe a lot of Black people assume that all White people have or come from money (another stupid ideology) or that White people have it easier in society (this ideology has some merit). But look at it this way. If rental units in Harlem are increasing, what do you think is happening to rental units elsewhere? The very same people who are moving into Harlem were probably displaced from their neighborhoods. I've seen studio apartments rent for $2,400.00 a month. A co worker of mine pays $1,300.00 a month for a one bedroom apartment in Tribeca and that's just his share. He has three other room mates who pay the same. They had to put up walls to make extra bedrooms. If someone else in their position sees a three bedroom apartment listed for $2,400.00, they are going to take it. For them it’s affordable, and the walls are already in place.

Gentrification is bringing a lot of new businesses to Harlem. I am glad restaurants besides McDonald's and Burger King are opening. I am glad I do not have to go to 34th St to shop at Old Navy, H&M and Starbucks. A lot of Black owned businesses are opening too and a lot of middle class Blacks are returning. The neighborhood is safer and hopefully, more Blacks and Whites will interact more with each other.

It seems as though every time a story is spun on gentrification in Harlem, Black activists do not bring up these points. They'll cry injustice. But instead of crying, they need to realize a few things. Harlem was never really ours to begin with. How much of Harlem did Black people actually OWN? As for the Black people who did own property but sold it to the highest bidder, they were merely capitalizing on their assets. And if Harlem was so dear to them they would not have sold it.

Harlem is gentrifying and fast too. No amount of protesting is going to stop it either. Columbia University is trying to expand and they will use eminent domain to do it. Do I believe what's happening to long time business owners and residents is nice? No! But it’s not about being nice.

So Black America should take this as a lesson. When you do not own your community, when you do not stick together, when you do not keep your neighborhoods clean and safe, it will be just a matter of time before "your" neighborhood becomes infiltrated. So if it hurts, take notes, take this as a lesson and do not allow this to happen again.