Harlem is where its at!!!

Today class takes us to Harlem and Morningside Heights our first stop took us to the Museum of New York on Fifth Avenue in East Harlem. The museum explores the past and present of New York City through heritage of diversity, opportunity and perpetual transformation. While there we watched a very interesting movie on New York City history I believe this movie really tied all the loose ends about the class. It showed a bit of Brooklyn and Queens it really focused on the island of Manhattan. In the movie it showed Manhattan as large farm land, it discussed how Wall and Canal Street got its name. Wall Street had a long wall that helped defend the settlers for invaders and Canal Street was actually a canal. The film also discussed how Harlem was founded in 1658 by the Dutch ten miles north of New Amsterdam and called it Niebuhr Harlem. During the 18^th and 19^th century the outlying land of fertile soil and strategic advantages of the Harlem plain attracted gentlemen farmers and wealthy merchants, who developed the estate and built country mansions (BG p.437)

 East Harlem was the location of many immigrants coming to NYC, in its successive years immigrants from Russia, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Scandinavia, England and Spain, was well as Eastern European Jews (BG.437). Being a nursing major the second best part of the Museum was the Lillian Wald: Creator of the Henry Street Settlement. Lillian Wald had a great impact on Community Nursing and the Henry Street Settlement was the first to provide care to immigrants in New York. 

Next we walked down a couple blocks to Justo Botanica owned by Jose Vargas. Being from South America I have been to a botanica a couple of times and I was very excited that some of my classmates would be able to share in a bit of my culture. Jose was very warm and receptive to us and discussed how long he has been at this location and how he would have to move in a couple weeks due to the increasing rent price at the hands of gentrification.

Walking down the street I saw very beautiful mosaics and murals dedicated to important figures and all designed by artist Manny Vega my favorite painting  was dedicated to Julia de Burgos 1914- 1952. It read in English and Spanish: 

The madness of my soul cannot repost
 It lives in the restlessness                                                                                                                                                           

In the disorder

In the imbalance of things dynamic

In the silence of the free thinker who lives alone in quiet exile

To our surprise we saw the artist himself Manny Vega touching up Espirtu is current project. He explained how he designed his mosaics and how they move from his dining room table and being his own to the street mosaics we admire now as the communities artistry and heritage.

 We broke for lunch and then headed more up top to Harlem 125^th street. I have been there many of times and still love it every time.Harlem is the most famous center of African-American life and culture in the US African-American blacks make up most of the population (BG, 437) We met our tour guide, he spoke about the Apollo Theater had how it was the birth place of many artist we listen to today. It launched many careers from Ella Fitzgerald to Diana Ross (BG, 440)., he also discussed the tree trunk that they rub for good luck before headed out on the stage  He showed us beautiful brownstones that go for about 1.5 million dollars and the signature NY stoops that is rarely found anywhere in the world. Next we stopped in front of the church of the Harlem Boys Choir and proceed to Marcus Garvey Park.Originally called Mount Morris Park, but was renamed in 1973 to honor Garvey, who dedicated to the advancement of his race (BG, 439).  Next we walked pass like one of the greatest bakeries ever Make my Cake bakery, I really wanted to leave and get a cupcake but I stayed and listen to our Tour Guide and learned something very useful St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem is one of the longest avenue in Manhattan it runs all the way to Washington Heights. After St. Nicholas Ave we visited the Harriet Tubman statue then to the most dreadful part of all, we walked up what felt like 1,000 steps to Morning Heights. Ending our day at the beautiful feet of Colombia University I was exhausted and tired but looking forward to my long trip home to my bed.