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'''Harlem''' is a district of [[Manhattan]] in [[New York City]]; it is named after the Dutch town [[Haarlem]].  [[File:Harlem1.jpg|thumb|425px]]

'''Harlem''' is a district of [[Manhattan]] in [[New York City]]; it is named after the Dutch town [[Haarlem]].  [[File:Harlem1.jpg|thumb|425px]]

The area was a far suburb until East European [[American Jews|Jews]] arrived 1890-1914, along with a large Italian-American element. It became largely black by 1920,with the migration of [[African-American]]s from [[the South]] and the Caribbean.  Many new arrivals had little education and came from isolated rural areas. They lacked elementary training in the most simple processes of good health and sanitation and urban living. With a death rate 42% greater than the remainder of New York City, Harlem became a center for quack healers. A large number of 'storefront' churches were established, but most of the ministers were probably charlatans of some kind. Harlem was one of the leading prostitution centers of Manhattan throughout the 1920s.<ref> Osofsky (1965)</ref>

The area was a far suburb until East European [[American Jews|Jews]] arrived 1890-1914, along with a large Italian-American element. It became largely black by 1920,with the migration of [[African-American]]s from [[the South]] and the Caribbean.  Many new arrivals had little education and came from isolated rural areas. They lacked elementary training in the most simple processes of good health and sanitation and urban living. With a death rate 42% greater than the remainder of New York City, Harlem became a center for quack healers. A large number of 'storefront' churches were established, but most of the ministers were probably charlatans of some kind. Harlem was one of the leading prostitution centers of Manhattan throughout the 1920s.<ref>Osofsky (1965)</ref>

==Politics==

==Politics==

The politics of the area was dominated for many years by [[Vito Marcantonio]], a fellow traveler of the far left.  Black political consciousness surged after a small riot in 1943. In 1944 [[Adam Clayton Powell]]  (1908-72) was elected to Congress, serving 1944-70. Powell was only the second black elected in the 20th century. He was a charismatic Black Baptist preacher and a leading liberal. His multiple scandals and prolonged absenteeism finally ruined his career.  Powell was defeated in the Democratic primary in 1970 by [[Charles Rangel]], a decorated Army hero who is just as liberal as Powell but not quite as corrupt.  Rangel now chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the tax laws.  Rangel's Harlem is now only 28% black, as many Hispanics have moved in. The district votes 90% for Democrats in Presidential elections.

The politics of the area was dominated for many years by [[Vito Marcantonio]], a fellow traveler of the far left.  Black political consciousness surged after a small riot in 1943. In 1944 [[Adam Clayton Powell]]  (1908-72) was elected to Congress, serving 1944-70. Powell was only the second black elected in the 20th century. He was a charismatic Black Baptist preacher and a leading liberal. His multiple scandals and prolonged absenteeism finally ruined his career.  Powell was defeated in the Democratic primary in 1970 by [[Charles Rangel]], a decorated Army hero who is just as liberal as Powell but not quite as corrupt.  Rangel now chairs the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the tax laws.  Rangel's Harlem is now only 28% black, as many Hispanics have moved in. The district votes 90% for Democrats in Presidential elections.

===Carnival===

===Carnival===

During the 1920s, African Americans experienced an unparallelled creative environment in which the actor controlled both production and artistry. This control was a vital part of all the artistic creations of the Harlem Renaissance, including art, theater, music, and writing. Although several elements of African-American culture contributed to this control, two were particularly important: the idea of carnival, with the reversal of power it creates, and the notion of speaking from behind a mask. As a result, the iconography of the Harlem Renaissance is akin to that of the masque or carnival; it involves a reversal of social position in which the normally marginalized or excluded person or group gains control and becomes the locus of power.<ref> Patti Capel Swartz,  "Masks and Masquerade: The Iconography of the Harlem Renaissance," ''Midwest Quarterly'' 1993 35(1): 49-62,</ref>

During the 1920s, African Americans experienced an unparallelled creative environment in which the actor controlled both production and artistry. This control was a vital part of all the artistic creations of the Harlem Renaissance, including art, theater, music, and writing. Although several elements of African-American culture contributed to this control, two were particularly important: the idea of carnival, with the reversal of power it creates, and the notion of speaking from behind a mask. As a result, the iconography of the Harlem Renaissance is akin to that of the masque or carnival; it involves a reversal of social position in which the normally marginalized or excluded person or group gains control and becomes the locus of power.<ref>Patti Capel Swartz,  "Masks and Masquerade: The Iconography of the Harlem Renaissance," ''Midwest Quarterly'' 1993 35(1): 49-62,</ref>

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* Watkins-Owens, Irma. ''Blood Relations: Caribbean Immigrants and the Harlem Community, 1900-1930'' (1996). 238 pp., social history

* Watkins-Owens, Irma. ''Blood Relations: Caribbean Immigrants and the Harlem Community, 1900-1930'' (1996). 238 pp., social history

* Watts, Jill. ''God, Harlem U.S.A.: The Father Divine Story'' (1992). 249 pp. religious history

* Watts, Jill. ''God, Harlem U.S.A.: The Father Divine Story'' (1992). 249 pp. religious history

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====References====

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[[category:New York City]]

[[Category:New York City]]

[[Category:Black History]]

[[Category:Black History]]

[[Category:Urban History]]

[[Category:Urban History]]