The Harlem community from 1900-1930 has been influenced by various intellectual figures, drastic changes in the world, and the influx of a new ethnicity, Afro-Caribbeans. Harlem has transitioned from being a heavily white populated environment to a diverse black community.
The start of the transition in Harlem was influenced by overbuilding in the 1890s. African American real estate agents for example, Philip Payton persuaded white landlords in Harlem to accept black tenants. Also, with the construction of Penn Station, apartments doubled its rent in central Manhattan. Places like San Juan Hill, pushed black tenants out due to the increase in rent. Thus, these tenants found a place to live in Harlem. Harlem also attracted various intellectual figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois. James Weldon Johnson, and Claude Mckay. Du Bois at this time viewed the Caribbean immigrants of possessing traits of the “representative negro.” Some of the these traits included hard work and independence. This raised tension between native born African Americans and Caribbean immigrants. An interesting fact was that due to the the vast immigration of foreigners to America, sometimes black American citizens could avoid the Jim Crow laws if they were mistaken for being foreign born.
Societies in the Caribbean was different from society in America. In the Caribbean, although the elite circle consisted of mostly educated whites, dark skinned people could still have an influence. The requirements was having an education or owning property.This is much different from America because even if someone had an education, their skin color would decide their fate. The Caribbean also had a heterogeneous society because of the import of Asian indentured laborers. These Asian-Caribbeans eventually moved to Harlem with their neighbors, Afro-Caribbeans.
During the years 1904 to 1914, the United States took over the Panama Canal project and this led to the immigration of the Caribbean people to Panama for work. The Panama Canal project had a major influence on the immigration of the Caribbean people to the U.S because caribbean immigrants used Panama money to bring their families to the U.S. What I found interesting was that in Panama even though the Panama Canal offered a lot of labor opportunities, people were actually living in worse conditions than before. The Jim Crow laws still applied, which segregated the blacks and whites. The darker skinned people were also paid less regardless of their skill level. For example, black employees were paid in Panamanian silver balboas while white employees were paid in gold balboas. Another aspect of the influence of Caribbeans in Panama was women. Women were persuaded to emigrate by the Isthmian Canal Commission (ICC). The ICC employed black women for house jobs such as being servants. I found it strange how the Caribbean women were preferred over Panamanians.
After the opening of the Panama Canal, more Caribbean laborers were influenced to Central American countries for work. However, due to World World I, working conditions deteriorated and emigration was focused on the U.S. That is how the Panama Canal project caused the Caribbean people to eventually move into Harlem. There were also programs such as the Victoria Emigration Society which helped women in Barbados by giving them money for emigrating.
“On to Harlem,” Philip and Maggie Payton’s purchase of the Victorian Gothic rowhouse transformed Harlem from being populated with Irish and Germans to becoming a black community. The vast majority of black migration has caused Harlem to become “a city within the City of New York.” Harlem was furthered expanded by the Caribbean benevolent societies which raised money to purchase three to four story brownstones. Other organizations such as the New York Colored Mission aided immigrants by helping them find work.
In conclusion, Harlem transformed into a black community because of the influence of certain individuals and the immigration of the Caribbean people to the U.S. I was surprised to learn about how other events in the world such as the building of the Panama Canal or World War I, can contribute to being a major factor in the development of communities. Overall, the Caribbean people played a major role in the transformation of Harlem because of their contribution in making Harlem a culturally diverse community.
