The political view of Harlem has changed a great deal since the early 1900’s, but the core issues are still similar. In the early to mid twentieth century, the main issues included racial empowerment and the quality of living conditions. Key African American leaders, such as Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X, wanted to lift the African American community so that they could be just as prosperous and respected as other groups in the nation. However, each of these leaders had a very different approach to reaching this goal.
For example, Malcolm X favored a more stern and aggressive approach while others tended to be more passive. Organizations such as the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) arose from leaders like Marcus Garvey. These organizations aimed to bring together the black community through its common African ancestry and heritage. The leaders of this time faced many ideological issues that would have to be dealt with before the African American community rose up.
There was a huge debate on whether or not the African American community should focus on integrating into American society or creating its own separate, isolated areas of influence in which there would not be much cultural diversity. Both sides of this argument garnered a lot of support, and prominent leaders could be found on both sides of the issue. Another issue facing the African American community at this time was that of heritage. African Americans were caught between two distinct cultures: that of their African ancestors, and that of their American surroundings. Most people with political influence at the time, including Marcus Garvey, wanted the community to reach back to its roots, and truly establish an identity of its own. Many people felt that if a distinct identity was established, there would be change in the status quo, and African Americans would truly become well-received members of American society.
The issues that consumed Harlem leaders of the time are still prevalent. However, they have expanded and it has become more of a minority issue than an African American issue. Harlem in the mid to late 19th century became an area plagued by gun violence, gang wars, and drugs. Rather than improving the condition of only African Americans at this point, the debate on the national and local level has transitioned to helping those stricken by poverty and living in small minority communities.
The two groups that come to mind, especially when it comes to Harlem, are African Americans and Latinos. Both were and to some extent still are plagued by the gang violence and drugs that consumed Harlem in the 1990’s. Both groups have been targets of the highly contested “stop and frisk” policies that only seem to focus on you black and latino men. In Harlem and nationwide, both groups are on the wrong side of a huge and growing gap in wealth, education, and prosperity between themselves and other groups.
- Taken from “harlemworldmag.com”
Politics in Harlem are based a great deal on local leaders, such as church pastors. Those that encourage community building and have the respect and attention of people are highly influential. According to senior pastor Michael Walron Jr, “I thought of it [gentrification] initially as something bad, but I realize it’s to be able to know each other better and learn about each other. There’s nothing bad in that.” He is talking about the fact that more tourists and white people have started coming to black churches, and this is only going to cause more acceptance between the two communities. Another such church leader was Reverend William Marcus James. Though he did not focus on gentrification specifically, his main prerogative was to help African American youth stand up and progress with their lives. He encouraged people such as Anthony Shipley to attend college and his life improved because of it.
Harlem is also in the sights of New York City politicians. Under the supervision of Rudy Giuliani, crime rates dropped and living conditions became better, as more attention has been paid to the specific needs of the people there.
Though the people involved in decision-making have changed, the core issues that Harlem faces have remained the same, and the new approaches, mainly in regard to political policy, have been more effective in recent years.
Marcus Garvey (http://henriettavintondavis.wordpress.com/2011/09/29/exonerate/)
