In his song, “Across 110th Street,” Bobby Womack relays the rough and ready lifestyle of Harlem. He takes on issues relating to drugs, crime and prostitution, eventually singing how “In every city you find the same thing going down,” but how “Harlem is the capital of every ghetto town.” I remember when I chose to go to college here, my mom was pretty critical of my decision. She was marked with shame when she told her friends I was going to school in Harlem. Why couldn’t it be Fordham? or NYU? or some other preppy school with unreasonable tuition rates? Because I’d rather have a house than student loans. That’s why the line “ The family on the other side of town, Would catch hell without a ghetto around,” resonated so much to me because back in Staten Island, I rarely experienced any accounts of crime or danger. With Harlem, I’ll see some instances of crime, but as weird as it is to say, I’ve grown accustomed to the nitty gritty lifestyle and actually really like it. I love the liveliness of 125th Street, and walking out the the train station never knowing what to expect. This feeling is best represented in Andy Robert’s “Check II Check” oil canvas painting.

The painting displays a crowded yet lively scene of individuals bustling about a street. The painting really portrays your average outing on 125th street: the line of street vendors, the overly excited children running about, the blaring music from radios, the pounding of drums by musicians, the occasional catcalls from guys leaning against the wall, and the frantic individuals (such as myself) who are just going about their business.  All in all, Harlem isn’t just a place, it’s an experience.