Op-Ed by Michael Henry Adams
Michael Henry Adams, Harlem architectural historian and author wrote
an op-ed in the Daily News today. While he has spoken about the topic of a changing Harlem on both Black Star News and The Daily Voice he brings forth the question once again, will Harlem stay Harlem? Read the piece below:
All New York neighborhoods change over time, some dramatically. But new census numbers show that Harlem, long the political and cultural capital of African-American life, is on the verge of being lost forever. That would not only deeply diminish New York City but would weaken the national political clout of blacks.
Are we really prepared to let this happen?
It’s ironically occurring at a time when an African-American has just been voted into the highest office in the land. It is doubly ironic that the neighborhood’s current political leadership – which itself is African-American – deserves much of the blame.
A series of scandals concerning Rep. Charles Rangel’s vacation retreat and fund-raising efforts have been all over the news lately. They haven’t mattered all that much to most Harlemites. What matters far more to them is the fact that Rangel and Gov. Paterson are neighbors, with spacious rent-stabilized apartments, in the same luxury complex.
“They enjoy what most in Harlem need,” 92-year-old Sophie Johnson told me, “someplace to live that’s affordable.”
Policies supported by most of Harlem’s black elected officials, but opposed by local community boards, have spurred the area’s economic revival. The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, the upzoning of 125th St. and Columbia University’s push to expand by 17 acres all have spurred an atmosphere of speculative excitement.
It’s usually a good thing when a neighborhood is upwardly mobile. But the frenzy has left many Harlemites – let’s be honest, lower-income black and Latino folk – on the outside looking in.
Read the rest: New York Daily News
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typical, typical… to adamiscrazy & mmpbrownstoner
first, i never told people to grin and bear racism. I did say that you live in a predominately aa community and are frequenting a prdomoniately aa site. so yes, you have to grin and bear that.
and as my statement is generalized (because i simply do not know everyone in harlem), but most statements are general on this site. so adam sit down, i do not condone racism. all i was saying that newcomers should be more open to being apart of something (which includes me) … but i guess your guilt got the best of you
and brownstoner, i have done more for this community, bridging people together than i care to talk about on this blog.
but it is typical that two of you (who i figure to be white) cry racism when someone else’s view doesn’t correspond with yours. i mean i never, ever said white people in my response.
The serenity prayer would be a grand guide if only we weren’t dissinclined to accept what we have no control over and too lazy to improve what we might.
It’s true. My viewpoint has changed, it’s evolved. I’ve been radicalized, by the bigoted double standard that prevails in the USA, whereby the far richer White majority demonize me and other Blacks for merely aspiring to the same prosperity and civic participation they enjoy and have long enjoyed, pursued via the same method of identity politics they have successfully utilized, a method now, somehow, dubbed “racist”?
Ask yourself, without massive urban Black and Latino neighborhoods in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia or Florida could Obama have won those states? Had their demographic been more “diverse”, might not Senator Mc Cain have been victorious?
Yes, it’s true, I abhor the national diminution of vanishing African American political relevance , with my tax dollars being used to enact rezoning, tax policy and other governmental interventions designed to uproot poor Blacks in favor of the well-to-do. This being America, statistically a disproportionate number of these newcomers will be Whites. But new affluent Black residents are no less guilty of displacement or gentrification.
Class or race, which is it that’s at issue with me, one might well ask? The questioner would be unlikely to be an African American however. Even the most deluded or bourgeois Black person is incline to acknowledge the overwhelming lack of parity between most Blacks and most Whites, or even most Blacks and the relatively fortunate few Blacks who are well off.
Generation after generation, European immigrants and their descendants, by sticking together, voting in solidarity, at the polls for representation drawn from their ethnic group, in the union hall, to exclude Blacks, have solidified and perpetuated real political and economic power. Blacks, on the other hand, are so poorly served by the African Americans we elect, that across the nation historically Black enclaves have grown steadily richer and Whiter?
For a long time, even realizing how this trend has led to fewer and fewer successful Black owned enterprises and a more diffuse cultural life too, I for one was pretty sanguine.
Change, we are told is inevitable. Harlem, once was predominately an Irish American community. One hundred and thirty years ago, the Irish American mayor lived here. Back then, most city commissioners, PS teachers, police officers and firefighters were Irish American also. Few, at best, of their great-great grand children live in Harlem now. Many, don’t even reside in the city limits. Yet, thanks to enduring political clout, they nonetheless dominate many civil service departments just as their antecedents did.
Adopting this model, in the 1960′s and 70′s, Black leaders secured cooperate and government subsidized affordable housing. Despite an average cost of a mere $20,000 for brownstones then, few Blacks acquired property in the thoroughly red-lined neighborhood. Harlem’s dense concentration of poverty, helped to deter speculative development.
Today, affordable housing is the exception Uptown. Many of those benefiting from this essential public initiative, figure among the area’s best paid residents, like Governor David Patterson or Congressman Charles B. Rangel, rather than the working class. The “change” these. bureaucrats have assiduously helped to foster will surely spell their demise. But this was hardly their goal. Neither was alienating the largely poor Blacks to whom they owe their position of privilege.
Promoting a new “Harlem Renaissance”, knowing most Blacks lack resources, they merely turned to people who do have cash. It was a logical calculation from their perspective and it’s helped to expand their campaign and fund raising coffers too. But changes wrought by this alliance of expediency has hardly been either inevitable, organic, fair, or remotely helpful to most long-term Harlemites. Ultimately, yes, those with advantageous incomes now displacing the poor, will likely suffer the same sort of indignity. Should that happen, right, might and money, will remain just as irreconcilable as they are now—only at this moment, it’s imperiled and disregarded poor people who most concern me—-people who in today’s Harlem momentarily remain disproportionately African American.
I understand and appreciate that this site has an African American slant. I have no problem with that. It doesn’t bother me that many of Narmer’s new items relate to the African American community at large and have no specific connection to Harlem. That’s fine. Adam’s comments are different. Like it or not, he’s a public figure, who’s opinion is respected by many. He should be held to the same standard as any other public figure.
Aburke-That’s quite a broad statement in your last paragraph, and one that is categorically false. I participate regularly in community meetings and events. I’ve also invited my entire block to my home. Many came, and it was a great time. I’ll probably do it again soon. I’ve gotten to know my neighbors. What have you done to help bridge the gap between old and new in the community?
aburke – you tell people to grin and bear rascism but then encourage them to be part of a change. Which is it? Those are most broad generalizing you do about white people. How do you know that white people who have moved here haven’t become a part of the community by volunteering, etc. I see a little bigotry in your post.
And Donald – you are praising Adams only because he spews his rascism in an open forum? That actually makes it less rascist? How do you know some of these bloggers haven’t written to the Daily News with a dissenting view?
There is no place or excuse for racism. Period.
i agree with donald
harlem is a majority african american community, THIS site is towards an african american slant, so grin and bear it! so it is funny that people who recently moved to harlem claim to be here because they love the place, (which i do not doubt), but these people must keep in mind that when harlem was struggling, as a community we had to help each other. there were no resources, tax breaks, or even much police support. so harlem turned inward and the progressive people banded together to make this a heck of a place.
so people must understand, that prior to gentrification we had to stand on our own. if you moved here recently, like any other place, you should try to be part of the fabric of the community and not someone who can’t wait to get home.
i am black, i own, but what really gets me are the people who are shocked that they are not welcomed. well, once you get behind the gripes of your computer terminal and be a neighbor and not a resident, i am sure your silly anonymous rants will be a little less… well silly.
most new people say they have moved here for economics, but i cringe to hear that people who purchased here recently (1million+) to only find that there idyllic apt/townhome has lost nearly 30% of its value. people should be paying more attention to the fact that if you purchased with the last 2 years your home is probably worth less that your mortgage.
so people, stop spewing who is racist, because i am sure as the day is long, that none of you have welcomed any african americans into your overpriced/over extended homes, had dinner/drink with a person of color. so instead of being shocked as to why someone is questioning your existence in harlem… you should be the change yourself!
Michael might be many things, but how many people are out there making their voices heard? No – I’m not talking about sitting behind the anonymity that this and other spaces provide to those who seem to have oodles to say about the topic in someone else’s space (but who usually lack the wherewithal to start their own blogs) – I’m talking about getting up in someone else’s face with a dissenting opinion when the results might be at least uncomfortable or potentially even dangerous? Michael has done that and has done it consistently for this historically Black neighborhood.
If the Internet has taught me anything, it’s that it’s relatively easy to have an opinion on a topic that you care relatively little about – especially when you don’t have to personally bear the brunt of the outcome once your opinion is questioned.
I appreciate the discourse on here, as these are important issues that are rarely discussed (if at all) outside of a very emotional and parochial context.
I am white, and through the lens of Michael Henry Adams and his ilk, a “gentrifier.” Maybe I am. But my parents had nothing, and, quite frankly, left this world the same way. I am trying to make something of myself, and only time will tell how that goes. Economics do factor in to my decision to live in Harlem, to be sure, but I also like the place. I like the location, and I like my neighbors. This is the closest thing I have to a home, and a community.
I know for a fact that Adams has more of a problem with _me_ than he does with the black middle and upper class residents who make up the lion’s share of Harlem’s “gentrification,” to the extent that it is in fact taking place. He has quite transparently (and recently) chosen to couch his “concerns” in some broader rhetoric about issues of class, simply to maintain credibility and currency as an expert. But I have no doubt that he is a racist, as plainly as that term can be applied to anyone.
It saddens me that a small handful of people who truly fall into this category have gone to such great lengths to position themselves as speaking for “the African American Community.” It saddens me that they are all too often uncritically accepted into this role by the media, by politicians, and by others. And it very much saddens me that the many people who do believe in racial integration and who believe in the value of _every_ person in contributing to “culture” have had, almost without exception, no voice at all.
Pete, the role of the media as I learned it was to report unbiasedly. The facts and strictly the facts. I find it interesting however that people not only want to label and define others but they also are labeling themselves. You are right that is a conversation that needs to be had in the community, but I don’t think doing it online is the right medium. I also don’t think those overly emotional town hall meetings are productive either. Perhaps this is something we can sort through in ’09.
Further to my point, it’s interesting how Adams’ message has changed slightly. He has stated previously that Harlem would lose its character if it ceased to be a predominantly African American enclave. His point was that any cultural points (the Apollo, Sylvia’s, etc.) would simply be exhibits and that Harlem itself would disappear. Thus, Harlem must remain African American.
His point now appears to be that African American’s will be culturally and politically powerless, unless there exists an enclave that is predominantly African American from which influence can be exerted. The window dressing is a bit different, but the point is still the same. Harlem must remain African American. He’s suggesting who should and shouldn’t live in Harlem based entirely on race. That is racism, plain and simple.
D.Bell–I suggest Googling some of Michael Henry Adams more recent statements. He’s been quoted as saying that Harlem isn’t Harlem without black people and that white gentrifiers are pushing black people out. He may occassionally disguise the point by mentioning class, but his point is a racial point at heart.
Setting aside for a moment the offensive nature of his remarks, I find his alarmist rants confusing. Does he really believe that a tripling of the white Harlem population means there soon won’t be any black people in Harlem or even that Harlem will soon cease to be majority black? What does a tripling of the white population mean? From 3% to 9%?
It’s all really a shame. Until recently, I had two copies of his book, which I’ve enjoyed immensely. I had significant respect for him as a scholar and an author. Now, I have a hard time seeing past his public statements.
I hesitate to label anyone a racist and it would place me as the publisher of this blog in an awkward position to do so. As is the case with other racist out there (overt and covert) they have their opinions. Do I agree with the minister at ATLAH? No, but for me to say he is xyz is biased and I like to let people form their own opinions based on the facts present. I only know of him as a scholar and author and it seems that perhaps it is best that I do. LOL
I am sorry – but I know about Michael Henry Adams. He IS rascist. And actually he is a friggin crazy person. I see him at meetings and the rants that he gives are all based on the race of the community.
He is NOT talking about class issues although maybe some of his sentiment includes low income. But he is not shy about wanting white people out of Harlem.
He and Reverend Manning should be ignored at all costs.
Thanks for adding to the discourse. Though I haven’t had the um, opportunity to meet or come into contact with Adams you are the second person to say this. I like to reserve judgment but the other person who said it is someone whose opinion I respect. As with everything in relation to Harlem, take it with a grain of salt. Thanks readers…you all keep things interesting around here.
So again I’ll ask my question. If this guy was white, would this be considered intelligent discourse?
As a white resident of Harlem, I ask this simple question – Is this guy racist? I would like black residents to answer. Certainly, if I were to say this kind of stuff living in Whitey-Town, USA, I would be labeled a racist and the media would not even entertain the idea of giving me a platform for my rants (so confused why this otherwise smart blog includes this gentrification garbage). I am truly as confused as I am concerned about this double standard. Is this guy threatened by the fact that I moved into a building that had been vacant and boarded-up and now pay taxes, shop, eat out, buy my coffee and participate in the local culture and economy? Someone please enlighten me before he gets what he wants; I move out and the building is a vacant eyesore once again. Harlem will go back to the “flourishing” African-American enclave it once was in the latter half of last century…c’mon please tell me the majority-minority does not harbor these feelings, tell me there is hope.
Confused,
One of the reasons this site was started was due to the lack of balanced information about Harlem. There was only one voice for the the most part and much of it was biased. We post information about Harlem whether we agree with it or not. Again, this is part of the flavor of Harlem and to pretend that it doesn’t exist would be a disservice to the readers. After all, as you noticed he not only has been published in the primarily black publications, but any Google search will pull his name from the Times, Daily News, etc. He garners media attention and has been dubbed the expert on architectural history. Also, many could argue the point that Adams is more against the fact that it is class war more so than a race war. Others might say the opposite. That is what intelligent discourse is all about.
Again, he is talking about class issues. Low income is the key word here. I believe his point is that the politicians voted into office aren’t representing the majority of their constituency. If you feel that strongly you might want to address the Daily News for giving him a voice. They have a much wider circulation than this little Harlem blog does.