Today, the greater Harlem area is split into three distinct sections: West, Central, and East Harlem. From containing the only remaining cast-iron watchtower left in the city to serving as the home for some of the country’s most influential cultural and artistic institutions dedicated to conserving the work of Black Americans, Harlem has much for us all to discover. Read to learn more about Harlem's legacy on New York City.
When New York's all-black 369th Infantry Regiment set off to fight in World War I, they were men without rights. On February 17, 1919, they finally got a parade