Moments For The Culture – We Had “Harlem” All Along

by Richard Lallite

It’s the vibration that focuses our formidable spiritual, artistic, political and financial power. The vibration creates “Harlem” wherever we exist in the world.

“Harlem is a Community, a Destination and a State of Mind.”

Harlem has always been more than just a place to be born or to be from. Harlem has always been an epicenter, a center of gravity, so to speak, for not just Black America, but also for the entire African Diaspora. Harlem has been a central place of connection, a clearing house, where the many cultures that constitute the Diaspora meet, mix, blend and strengthen one another. Harlem is not just one people’s history.  It is at once, both living memory and enigmatic future. Harlem lives and breathes. Its heart beats, pulsing and circulating its energy to all who would venture close enough to feel and contribute to its rhythms. Harlem nurtures and nourishes it’s various constituent communities, giving birth to leaders both local and global and spawning movements that inspire change worldwide.

Quoting my good friend and colleague G. Keith Alexander, “Harlem is a Community, a Destination and a State of Mind.”

The vibration creates “Harlem” wherever we exist in the world.

Throughout the United States and the wider world, wherever there have been communities of color, or a concentration of “SKIN FOLK”, we have always seemed to naturally gravitate towards one another. Sometimes it was by necessity for safety in numbers, other times because we just seem to have more fun when we are with one another. It’s almost like the ancestors calling us all to gather together so that we can vibrate louder and stronger as one. It’s the vibration that focuses our formidable spiritual, artistic, political and financial power. The vibration creates “Harlem” wherever we exist in the world. We know the actual names of the areas, districts, neighborhoods and peoples. What we have in common is that they have been and are a “Harlem” as well.

Uniquely African, Uniquely Black, and Uniquely Harlem.

“Harlem” is Greenwood in Tulsa, Sweet Auburn in Atlanta, the Hayti District in Durham, the U Street Corridor of Washington, DC or Seventh Street in West Oakland, CA. These communities and others incubated and grew a uniquely African-American or Black Culture. “Harlem” is Soweto in South Africa, Accra in Ghana, Nairobi in Kenya or Lagos in Nigeria providing deep historical pride and a restored heritage after centuries of worldwide trauma. “Harlem” is vibrant African and Caribbean Immigrant communities such as Brixton in London and the Toxteth District in Liverpool. These communities and enclaves can be found all over Europe showing that we can survive and thrive anywhere. Finally, The Caribbean Islands and Afro-Latino communities everywhere in Central and South America proving with every drumbeat that we share a commonality that reaches to the very rhythms of our souls.

These far flung places with diverse and unique traditions over the course of decades have all found connection and a home in Harlem, USA. You can experience that connection in the sights, sounds, flavors, fashion, hairstyles, music, and literature of Harlem. It has always been Uniquely African, Uniquely Black, and Uniquely Harlem.

With all due respect to Black Panther, we never needed a fictional Wakanda (all though its symbolism is greatly appreciated) because we had Harlem and “Harlem” all along.

DO YOU LIVE IN A “HARLEM” OF THE WORLD? TELL US YOUR STORIES.

At HarlemAmerica, we want to connect Harlem, USA to the “Harlems” Of The World. If you live in one of these places, we invite you to share with us what is going on in your “Harlem”. Get information on how to submit your story, photos or both by sending a message to the Editor below.

    I am interested in submitting content about my community to HarlemAmerica

    HarlemAmerica Moments_For_The_Culture Slider-Harlems_of_the_World Featured Image

    It’s the vibration that focuses our formidable spiritual, artistic, political and financial power. The vibration creates “Harlem” wherever we exist in the world.

    “Harlem is a Community, a Destination and a State of Mind.”

    Harlem has always been more than just a place to be born or to be from. Harlem has always been an epicenter, a center of gravity, so to speak, for not just Black America, but also for the entire African Diaspora. Harlem has been a central place of connection, a clearing house, where the many cultures that constitute the Diaspora meet, mix, blend and strengthen one another. Harlem is not just one people’s history.  It is at once, both living memory and enigmatic future. Harlem lives and breathes. Its heart beats, pulsing and circulating its energy to all who would venture close enough to feel and contribute to its rhythms. Harlem nurtures and nourishes it’s various constituent communities, giving birth to leaders both local and global and spawning movements that inspire change worldwide.

    Quoting my good friend and colleague G. Keith Alexander, “Harlem is a Community, a Destination and a State of Mind.”

    The vibration creates “Harlem” wherever we exist in the world.

    Throughout the United States and the wider world, wherever there have been communities of color, or a concentration of “SKIN FOLK”, we have always seemed to naturally gravitate towards one another. Sometimes it was by necessity for safety in numbers, other times because we just seem to have more fun when we are with one another. It’s almost like the ancestors calling us all to gather together so that we can vibrate louder and stronger as one. It’s the vibration that focuses our formidable spiritual, artistic, political and financial power. The vibration creates “Harlem” wherever we exist in the world. We know the actual names of the areas, districts, neighborhoods and peoples. What we have in common is that they have been and are a “Harlem” as well.

    Uniquely African, Uniquely Black, and Uniquely Harlem.

    “Harlem” is Greenwood in Tulsa, Sweet Auburn in Atlanta, the Hayti District in Durham, the U Street Corridor of Washington, DC or Seventh Street in West Oakland, CA. These communities and others incubated and grew a uniquely African-American or Black Culture. “Harlem” is Soweto in South Africa, Accra in Ghana, Nairobi in Kenya or Lagos in Nigeria providing deep historical pride and a restored heritage after centuries of worldwide trauma. “Harlem” is vibrant African and Caribbean Immigrant communities such as Brixton in London and the Toxteth District in Liverpool. These communities and enclaves can be found all over Europe showing that we can survive and thrive anywhere. Finally, The Caribbean Islands and Afro-Latin X communities everywhere in Central and South America proving with every drumbeat that we share a commonality that reaches to the very rhythms of our souls.

    These far flung places with diverse and unique traditions over the course of decades have all found connection and a home in Harlem, USA. You can experience that connection in the sights, sounds, flavors, fashion, hairstyles, music, and literature of Harlem. It has always been Uniquely African, Uniquely Black, and Uniquely Harlem.

    With all due respect to Black Panther, we never needed a fictional Wakanda (all though its symbolism is greatly appreciated) because we had Harlem and “Harlem” all along.

    DO YOU LIVE IN A “HARLEM” OF THE WORLD? TELL US YOUR STORIES.

    At HarlemAmerica, we want to connect Harlem, USA to the “Harlems” Of The World. If you live in one of these places, we invite you to share with us what is going on in your “Harlem”. Get information on how to submit your story, photos or both by sending a message to the Editor below.

      I am interested in submitting content about my community to HarlemAmerica

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      GKA
      GKA
      1 year ago

      Testing the red dialog box at the left of the page

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