50 years on, Harlem Week shows how a New York City neighborhood went from crisis to renaissance

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — In the 1970s, decades of disinvestment had culminated in a mass exodus from Harlem known as urban flight. Percy Sutton, then the Manhattan borough president and New York City’s highest-ranking Black elected official, knew Harlem was due for a revitalizing, uplifting moment. He founded Harlem Day, which evolved into Harlem Week. This year, Harlem Week celebrated its 50th anniversary with 18 days of free programming. It has become a living tribute to Harlem’s history of greats and reveals how the neighborhood earned its reputation as a “Black Mecca” of the world.