I Fell in Love With East Harlem

By Ofir Sanchez

 Exploring the world of the publishing industry came true after many years. Working as Paralegal, Administrative Assistant, life experience and education strengthened her character and developed the courage to do what she was afraid to do during her youth. Her book

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bookside Press
• Release date: Jul 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781990695575

Ofir Sanchez

OFIR SANCHEZ was born in Argelia Valle, Colombia. Her family's decision to migrate to Miami was an eye-opener for her. She gained a new perspective on the culture of this country in which gender equality and social class differences do not differ from her ideals and dreams. She decided to move from Miami to New York City, and she has been a New Yorker ever since. In New York, she enjoys the shows on Broadway, its diverse cuisine, museums, and learning about its residents' cultures and literary community. She loves to write and read. She is pursuing a Master's Degree in Creative Writing, achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Science at Mercy College, and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies at the College of Technology Institute. Fruitful as it was, she was offered an administrative job at Avon Cosmetics Co. She also worked with a Real Estate Lawyer as Secretary and in South shore Home Health Services as Office Assistant. She assisted the Director of Holocaust victims at Self-help Inc.

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

DEDICATIONS

HARLEM’S HISTORY

FAMOUS NAMES IN HARLEM

INTRODUCTION TO EAST HARLEM

EAST HARLEM NOW

TRANSPORTATION

EAST HARLEM CULTURAL AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

EAST HARLEM SCHOOLS

EAST HARLEM STREETS AND AVENUES

EAST HARLEM BANDS

YEARLY EVENTS IN EAST HARLEM

RESTAURANTS

EAST HARLEM Parks

FAMOUS NAMES IN EAST HARLEM

LOCAL ACTIVISTS AND POLITICIANS

WRITERS, POETS, ACTORS IN EAST HARLEM

ACTIVISTS, ARTISTS, PHYSICIANS IN EAST HARLEM

EAST HARLEM CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

THE FUTURE OF EAST HARLEM

COVID-19

EAST RIVER SNAPSHOTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

INTRODUCTION

I moved to East Harlem, on December 1, 2011. I explored it for several days realizing that the area had changed considerably since I last visited. I saw clean streets, newly constructed buildings, and ongoing rehabilitation. Owners were remodeling their facilities, making the neighborhood look beautiful and modern. In addition to urban developments, the community featured new supermarkets, restaurants, and small businesses. I decided to move to East Harlem in spite of my doubts, and now, ten years later, I can say that it has changed for the better.

The local post office and public library are both close to my home, as is Central Park. While initially I was incredibly excited by the idea of living across the street to Central Park, after three months in the neighborhood, I discovered that the best reason to live in East Harlem is its people. East Harlem residents, whatever their ethnicity, are kind, courteous, and friendly. They are also committed to making the neighborhood a wonderful place to live. They are involved in the community’s political and social events, such as neighborhood board meetings and cultural celebrations. They volunteer at local food pantries. They fight to preserve affordable rent so residents of all income levels can remain in the area. In addition, they exercise their right to vote and support neighborhood organizations such as Union Settlement, East Harlem Community Alliance, Hop Community Inc, chamber of Commerce, and the Legal Aid Society.

A compelling and complex history shaped East Harlem. Its residents, many from immigrant roots, are lovely people whose families came here to work hard, have better lives, and contribute to the growth of this great nation. Indeed, the history of this neighborhood is a history of New York City. East Harlem has welcomed the Irish, Italians, Jews, and Puerto Ricans, among many others. Its earliest generations worked hard to become successful even though they had few opportunities for education, employment, and housing. They passed their devotion to the neighborhood’s modern generation. East Harlem’s younger residents contribute to its growing prosperity, as their ancestors did years ago.

By: Ofir Sanchez

Photos taken by: Ofir Sanchez

Living is easy with eyes closed

Misunderstanding all you see

—John Lennon

DEDICATIONS

To God, who gave me

the inspiration to write this book.

To my family, who motivates me

with their love and support.

To the residents of East Harlem,

who shared their culture and friendship.

To my teachers and colleagues,

who have inspired me with their talents.

To Crystal Howard,

NYC’s Assistant Commissioner of

Parks and Recreation, for allowing

me to use pictures of NYC parks.

To Dr. Yolanda Santiago,

who encouraged me to publish

my book.

HARLEM’S HISTORY

Th ough the author primarily introduced readers to East Harlem, it is first n ecessary to briefly explore the background and history of West Harlem (also k nown simply as Harlem) because it was home to many European immigrants w hose families later moved across the city. Harlem is a section of northern M anhattan bounded by Frederick Douglass Boulevard, St. Nicholas Avenue, and M orningside Park on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; F ifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park on the south.

Native Americans first inhabited Harlem, including the Manhattan tribe and their neighbors, the Lenape. Its earliest European settlers were Dutch, who christened the area Haarlem in 1658 after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands.¹ Hostilities erupted between the Native Americans who inhabited the land and the new Dutch settlers, forcing some immigrants to move to lower Manhattan, a region they dubbed New Amsterdam. As time passed and conflicts between the Dutch and the region’s Native American tribes began to decrease, they could gradually coexist. In 1664, English settlers took control of the New Netherlands Colony, which included the Harlem area, until the Dutch regained power in 1673.

Midway through the eighteenth century, Harlem played a vital role in the American Revolution. When the British established a base of operations in lower Manhattan, George Washington fortified the area of Harlem to oppose them. After America won the Revolution, Harlem would continue to grow, and had by the end of the eighteenth century a resort area for the wealthy of New York City.

In the 1920s, a surge of African Americans moved into the neighborhood, followed by Puerto Ricans. By 1950, Harlem had become a significant hub for Harlem African American businesses and remains so today. However, the population is no longer predominantly Black.² It instead reflects its status as a cultural melting pot comprised of many ethnic and immigrant communities. Harlem has become a chic and popular area thanks to highly acclaimed restaurants when former President Obama favored Red Rooster, owned by Marc Samuelsson, and cultural institutions such as the Apollo Theater and the Studio Museum.

HARLEM MEER SEEN FROM ABOVE

FAMOUS NAMES IN HARLEM

Harlem has played host to many famous people throughout its history, whether born in the neighborhood or residents of it. A few noteworthy individuals are listed below:

EDWARD SULLIVAN

Edward Ed Sullivan was born in Harlem on September 28, 1901, into a large Irish Catholic family. His parents were immigrants who settled in Harlem in the 19th century when the neighborhood was predominantly Jewish, Italian, and Irish. Sullivan was a journalist, producer, and TV show host best known for hosting the Ed Sullivan Show from 1948 to 1971.

Ed Sullivan first worked in vaudeville, producing several performances where he acted as a master of ceremonies. During World War II, he worked for organizations that provided wartime relief, including the American Red Cross. When CBS network producers became aware of his hosting abilities, they offered him a show called the Toast of the Town, which aired every Sunday night and eventually became the Ed Sullivan Show. The Ed Sullivan Show entertained millions of viewers, was the longest-running show in TV history, and hosted an array of celebrities from the period, including Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. ³

ARTHUR MILLER

Arthur Miller was born in Harlem to a wealthy Irish immigrant family. He was a playwright and the producer of many Broadway plays, including his most famous work, Death of a Salesman, for which he received the Pulitzer Prize. ⁴

As a teen, Miller worked odd jobs and saved enough money to attend the University of Michigan in 1934. He began to write plays that dealt with American families struggling to succeed in the face of systemic social problems. An example is the Death of a Salesman during the Great Depression, which devastated his family’s wealth and left them destitute. Like his marquee play’s lead character, Willy Loman, Arthur Miller struggled, working hard over decades to attain the longstanding success he later enjoyed. His prolific oeuvre of plays included A View from the Bridge and Incident at Vichy, which was performed widely, both on Broadway and internationally. Miller married Marilyn Monroe in 1956, although their marriage lasted less than six years.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Artist: John Trumble

Alexander Hamilton was an American Statesman, Founding Father of the United States, and the nation’s first Secretary of Treasury. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the U.S. Constitution. He founded the nation’s financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and the New York Post newspaper.

Hamilton was born on the Caribbean Island of Nevis on January 11, 1755. Because his parents were not legally married, he could not