Harlem

Deborah Willis, Cheryl Finley, Elizabeth Alexander, Thelma Golden

The vibrant and bustling neighborhood occupying the upper reaches of Manhattan has been at the crosswords of the artistic, literary, and political currents of the African-American community since the earliest days of the twentieth century. Home to writers and revolutionaries, artists and agitators, Harlem has been both subject and inspiration for countless photographers. This sweeping photographic survey tells the story of Harlem--its distinctive landscape and extraordinary inhabitants--throughout the last century. Following a poignant introduction by Thelma Golden, who talks of her family ties to Harlem, the book is divided into three major periods in which leading scholars chronicle the famous enclave's rich artistic and political history. Deborah Willis considers the first few decades of the twentieth century, a pivotal time in Harlem. The Harlem Renaissance was born in these...