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

In 1974, Harlem’s deserted streets told the story of a neighborhood left behind. Decades of disinvestment had culminated in a mass exodus known as urban flight and residents watched as their wealthier, more educated counterparts left the New York City neighborhood in droves. Percy Sutton, who was 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.