Documentation of 65 East 125th Street

The notion of race has played a prominent role throughout the housing and fiscal situation in New York City. Sharon Zukin highlights these factors as major playing fields in the shaping of present day Harlem in her novel, “The Naked City: The Life and Death of Authentic Public Places.” She speaks on the unique gentrification that has played in this area. There are the usual displacement of low income families in replacement for upper middle class residents. Race plays a major role in the shaping of Harlem, however, Zukin makes an interesting note to discuss how there is presence of white families displacing African American families, but also the notion that wealthier African America families are also displacing the original lower income residents of Harlem.

There is a great surge in black empowerment, and the growing awareness to support African American businesses in order to promote their cultural and authentic businesses. Many have moved into the area of Harlem, helping to add culture and richness in the city. Zukin describes how this strategic business placement is unique to an area like Harlem, as it highlights the cultural heritage of Harlem’s past, and also makes waves for great proliferation of local business success and marketing opportunities in today’s age, and for the future. ¹ It is important for us to realize that African American businesses must be highlighted and emphasized, in order to accrue a fair opportunity for their successful branding. The history of the United States has played out a highly discriminatory propagation, and in order to fix the past, extra effort must be made in order to recognize these growing local businesses. Adding these businesses in a place such as Harlem provides numerous cultural and social benefits to the residents living around. Harlem has been plagued with high crime rates, and poor education. By being around affluent African American individuals, there could be a potential influential wave that flows throughout the younger generation of the lower income class in Harlem. However, Zukin does mention that the area of Harlem is still plagued by the high unemployment rates, medical issues in the public, and disproportionate school systems in the area. ² However, the change of Harlem is fairly new, and we would have to wait a few more years to see if these local businesses and influx of upper middle class African American families plays a role on the current population.

Camillo Jose Vergara is a prominent documenter and photographer who highlights the slums of American urban areas. He has created a project since 1977 till this year in which he photographs the same area of Harlem every year. He has documented the photos which are accessible on the Library of Congress website, a government authority, showing how far his legacy has reached. ³ We can see that the area first started out as a bar, to a fish and chips restaurant, to a discount variety store, to a smoke shop that lasted 5 years, to a clothing store, to a desolate area for two years during a time of great economic distress, and then to a Sleepy’s, and now finally to a universal church that has been standing strong since 2009. It is important to see how much change has occurred in just one tiny area of Harlem. Businesses come and go, and people have to deal with the economic burden that causes many local businesses to fall out. The major change in one small area can reflect on how dynamic the whole entire area of Harlem is changing, and the influx of big brands such as Sleepy’s coming in, to cultural and local businesses such as a local bodega or local church that seems to stay around for longer. It is interesting to note that the businesses that have stayed in Harlem for longer, (Sleepy’s only lasted one year in this area as opposed to the bodega lasting 4 years, and the local church lasting 9 years ago till present day), are the ones that are local. Residents of the area can relate more to business owners of their cultural heritage and background. This is a feasible explanation for the possible success of the new influx of upper middle class African Americans creating their local business shops in the area.