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Personally I love the wide streets of Harlem, particularly below 125th st. Walking on Lenox Ave and 7th Ave during the winter time? Pretty beautiful IMO. Gritty streets with a touch of class, plus again they're so wide. And yes, I too love the African American feel that still persists, in spite of gentrification.
The change has been EXTREMELY huge. In fact there are no more black people in Harlem...a realtor told me that so therefore it must be true.
It is now all young white people making $100,000+ each year and working on Wall Street. In this it most resembles the wondrously transfigured South Bronx.
"Just sign here and we will await your bank's approval."
I mean this in a good way. Despite all the talk of gentrification, when I visited Harlem I felt I was in the movie Shaft or Superfly. I felt pretty safe, even though it was daytime, and was still surprised how few non-blacks there were. I liked how everything looked retro old-school, like the buildings, shop-fronts.etc. Didn't see many afros and stuff, but it just felt 70s or 80s in feel to me. Would you share the same observation?
Haha. I can't say that I've ever felt like I was in Shaft or that it felt "retro" even. Harlem, more than other places imo, takes pride in being cutting-edge (culture wise). They start the trends (i.e., Harlem Shake, Aunt Jackie, Chicken Noodle Soup, Pink Tees) and everyone else follows. Plus, Harlem's so diverse with so many Africans and West Indians that that old school "soul" flavor you get in Chicago, DC or West Philly is not as strong.
The outside perception of Harlem as the Black epicenter of America is interesting. I was in Paris last winter and some dude (he was white) who heard my accent stopped to ask me where I was from in the US and I said "New York" and he asked "oh, Harlem!?"- and he was excited that I might actually be from Harlem- I just laughed.
The outside perception of Harlem as the Black epicenter of America is interesting. I was in Paris last winter and some dude (he was white) who heard my accent stopped to ask me where I was from in the US and I said "New York" and he asked "oh, Harlem!?"- and he was excited that I might actually be from Harlem- I just laughed.
The French think all black people are from Harlem. I got that question a lot while living there.
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I think Harlem has the most character of any nabe in Manhattan, with Chinatown a close second for obvious reasons. Most of the other ethnic enclaves have lost their flavour.
I think Harlem has the most character of any nabe in Manhattan, with Chinatown a close second for obvious reasons. Most of the other ethnic enclaves have lost their flavour.
I agree I love Harlem it's still has it's issues but it's gotta be the greatest black neighborhood in America. Realtors are lying to a lot ppl saying isn't still mostly black by a lot just walk around Harlem for a day and they'll see.
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