Items related to Harlem Churches: At the End of the 20th Century
Illustrated history of Harlem, New York's 75+ historic churches at the end of the twentieth century.
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About the Author:
Cynthia Hickman is a lifelong resident of New York City. A graduate of New York City public schools, she earned her A.B., M.B.A. and J.D. degrees from Harvard University. She is a published author, photographer and avid traveler. Cynthia is also a collector of afro-centric cultural memorabilia and is an unofficial historian of her hometown - Harlem.
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Introduction
In Harlem, at the end of the twentieth century, there are more than 250 places of religious worship, ranging from unincorporated storefronts to historic institutions housed in magnificent church-owned edifices. The sheer number of active churches in Harlem makes it, perhaps, the most "churched" community in the world. More than fifty of these institutions have been havens in the community since the Great Depression, with nearly two dozen of these churches playing a pivotal role in the establishment of Harlem as the "Negro Mecca" during its renaissance in the 1920s.
Harlem Churches is an attempt to provide the local resident, occassional visitor and tourist a glimpse into the community's institutional bedrock. Today, many of the historical churches may look less impressive, less significant than they did in their heyday. However, with limited knowledge of their respective histories, it is impossible to appreciate the critical role they played in establishing Harlem as the premier destination for migrating blacks throughout the first half fo the 20th century. Or, to place into context the enormous contributions made by their leaders and members to the progress of African Americans within and outside of Manhattan, New York.
In Harlem Churches, the historic churches are generally defined as those that helped to establish Harlem as the "Negro Mecca" up to and including the late 1920s - before the onset of the Great Depression and Harlem's precipitous decline into the ranks of the nation's most discussed ghettos. Many venerable Harlem churches have been established since 1930 and are not included in this book. One must note, however, that their very existence was made possible due to the pioneering efforts of the historic churches. Several other churches, although established in Harlem prior to 1930, opened their doors to significant black membership afetr 1930. Still other churches located in "Harlem" (roughly between 110th and 155th Streets west of Fifth Avenue and east of Broadway) are excluded because they are located outside of the "black" community. Several significant churches fall into this category, including the Riverside Church at 122nd Street and Riverside Drive and the Cathedral ! Church of St. John the Divine at 112th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. Finally, there are churches now outside of the rough historical boundaries of Harlem that are included in the book. These churches were once located inside Harlem's boundaries or were active in the black community when it found itself in the Tenderloin and San Juan Hill districts of Manhattan.
Harlem Churches is divided into two parts. The first part, the Timeline, provides an historical overview of the formation and function of the African American community and the black church in Manhattan, New York City. The Timeline follows the role of the church in meeting its members' need for self-expression from their arrival in the 1600s to the end of the twentieth century. The second half ofthe book provides a tour and history of Harlem's historic churches. From photographs, historical sketches and memorabilia, this section provides readers with information about institutional origins, leadership, membership and activities for many of Harlem's historic churches.
Recently, there has been renewed interest in Harlem: its history and potential. Superstores and shopping malls are being constructed, franchise shops are dotting the streets and corners of its main thoroughfares, and buses are disgorging tourists eager to experience the sights and sounds of the nation's most celebrated and historic black community. In this crush of new visitors, Harlem church tours have become one of the more popular activities. Unfortunately, benefitting Harlem's role as the poster child of urban decline and recently of urban renewal, there are few plaques and markers to celebrate the role these historic churches, their leaders and members, have played in the community. Harlem Churches is an effort to remedy these omissions.
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- PublisherDunbar Inc
- Publication date2001
- ISBN 10 0971555907
- ISBN 13 9780971555907
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages316
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