The Harlem Reader: A Celebration of New York's Most Famous Neighborhood, from the Renaissance Yearsto the 21st Century

By Herb Boyd

Book Overview

From its humble beginnings as a farming community and a country retreat for the rich, to its incarnation as a Mecca of black art and society, to its current reputation as a crime-ridden slum, symbolising the urban ills of the world, Harlem has been the source of unparalleled inspiration and writing. This anthology collects work from all of Harlem's many seasons, including poems, rap, personal memories and narratives in the unforgettable voices of Malcolm X, Maya Angelo, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Sidney Poitier and more, to offer a stunning portrait of Harlem.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400046815
• ISBN13: 9781400046812
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Inspirational and Educational

The Harlem Reader is a must read for anyone who would like to acquire more knowledge about Harlem. It has a revelation about the struggles of African-Americans during the Harlem Renaissance period after the migration from the South to the North. This book stirs the soul and heightens one's perspective concerning the various viewpoints from a variety of authors. The contribution of their writings from essays to short stories for inclusion in the book is very enlightening and educational. Harlem is not only touched upon during the Harlem Renaissance years; the writings also touched upon the present and anticipated future activities in Harlem. It shows the current state of economic development and the mistreatment of those who are not financially wealthy, or in the upper income class. It also highlights the lives of those who are financially wealthy. The writings of great writers such as Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Dubois, Weldon Johnson, and Claude McKay will touch the soul. Also included are national liberators such as Marcus Garvey, Rev. Al Sharpton, Malcolm X, Reverend Adam Clayton Powell and others, just to name a few. The essence of this book is straight from the heart of Harlem. It was a pleasure for me to learn from its golden pages. This book is truly educational and inspirational. Herb Boyd has highlighted the soul of Harlem in an uplifting manner for all to learn about and enjoy. Recommended Reading: A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose and Thoughts for the Mind, Body and Soul, and Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul

An excellent starting point

I am new to Harlem, completely - took a new job in a brownstone on 122nd just east of Lenox - and wanted to get some background on this neighborhood which I knew had a very complex history. This book gave me a good broad cross-section of context to start with. It is NOT centered on the Harlem Renaissance, the topic of many other books, but has short pieces and excerpts covering mostly the span AFTER that period to the near past. It really piqued my interest to search out and read other books on the history and especially the architecture of this amazingly rich neighborhood.