Essay On Harlem

Harlem is known internationally as the Black Mecca of the world. It is knowns as home to many races and ethnic groups. Those including the Dutch, Irish, German, Italian and Jewish. Harlem was originally settled by the Dutch in 1658, but was largely farmland and undeveloped territory for approximately 200 years. As New York’s population grew, residential and commercial expansion moved northward, and development of Harlem territory was evitable.

In the 1880’s the elevated of the rail lines in Harlem were extended north along Eight & Ninth Avenues, encouraging expansion northward .The development of transportation lines had cause speculation on the land and to many fine houses and many family apartment that were erected. This boom slowed in
Despite the rough days of the previous few decades, Harlem is presently experiencing a new renaissance. A brief walk through any section of the community will reveal the sights and sounds of construction crews at work developing properties.

A brief walk through any section of the community will reveal the sights and sounds of construction crews at work developing properties. The good times are rolling, but many are concerned that as development continues and property values rise, gentrification will become an issue for community residents. This has been an area where they have found a home and space of cultural and political empowerment, at the same time as being subject to very high levels of poverty, ill-health and unemployment. It is thus no surprise that the gentrification of Harlem over the last couple of decades has been highly contentious and contested.
Gentrification is never a neutral process. Much of the academic literature on the subject has highlighted the ways in which processes of gentrification have forced low income households out of gentrifying neighborhoods as the middle class households move in, taking advantage of low housing costs and often architecturally appealing