The most notable aspect to note about Harlem is its history. Not just what is still left today, but how it’s remembered. In general, it’s safe to say that the history of Harlem can’t be determined by a stroll through the neighborhood — it can only be remembered by people that choose to remember certain aspects of the history.

To illustrate the point I’m trying to make, I will give a few examples. Take the Tree of Hope. This symbol is not present in the location it was several decades ago. Without the stories and the recollections of someone that remembers the Tree of Hope, as well as its significance, no one would really be able to tell the importance of what this tree used to symbolize. No one would really comprehend the meaning of the replacement tree at the Apollo Theater or the little plaque that stands where the tree used to stand. Clearly, the rich practices of Harlem are only remembered by people that choose to help retain history.

Next, we can look at present day nail salons. Back in the day, there were hotspots where people used to come to drink, dance, spend time together, and all in all have a good time. People used to come together at night to make these places just part of the vibrant community. Nevertheless, today, those hot spots that were a vital part of the night life have all disintegrated into nail salons and restaurants. I am not offering the statement that nail salons and fast food joints are not a community hotspot, but I am stating that night clubs are more vibrant than their current replacements are. Take the famous Big Apple Night Club. In the midst of a tenement building, this was one of the more popular places to spend the night in Harlem. Today, it is a Popeye’s. Even though this restaurant got an A, it’s still not the same thing as what used to stand in its place. Unless they are educated by people that choose to remember the Big Apple Night Club, the customers of that Popeye’s Restaurant probably have no idea of the importance of where they are eating.

A final example I want to make concerns the building where the Harlem Globtrotters used to play. That building, before it was a part time basketball stadium, was also know for being a ballroom hall where musicians used to fill the building with jazz and with life. People all the way from Chicago would perform for entertainment and for comedy. The basketball team garnered so much support and had fun playing for decades at this location. And today this edifice is scheduled to be demolished. Most people that walk by that building today have no idea of the rich history that it represents. But those who choose to remember and study the history realize that the scheduled demolition is actually a travesty.

To hammer the nail through the coffin, take what the founder of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture did. Someone once told him that African Americans do NOT have any [memorable] history. He made it his life mission to prove that person wrong, by collecting hundreds of pieces of African American literature and memories. He understood the maxim of life: history is only remembered by people that choose to remember certain aspects of the past. He chose to remember. Will people of our generation do the same?