A new perspective on Harlem

Digital Harlem uses maps to illustrate Harlem between the years 1915-1930. The maps include whereabouts of events such as drug dealings, rape, and prostitution, as well as places the mark important events of the lives of individuals. The map also marks common church locations, popular nightlife locations, and sporting events. Additionally, the researchers supplement the maps with metadata about the locations. For example, they give a brief history of the lives of the individuals that the maps represent and the importance of sporting events and churches in Harlem as well as their historical context. This mapping project particularly exemplifies Turnbull’s contention that all maps are perspectival because the researchers make a very conscience choice to focus “not on black artists and the black middle class, but on the lives of ordinary African New Yorkers” (Roberston). In so doing, they offer a perspective of Harlem that differs from the norm, or wants to emphasize the events and voices that have been silenced and overlooked by the perspectives of researchers who want to focus on a more affluent point of view of Harlem during this time. This also shows how their map is subjective because it represents the researchers’ interpretation of the time period, and in doing, makes an argument that every day life and normal people in Harlem matters or is important too. The map assumes that its point of view is unique or that most maps of Harlem only show “black artists and the black middle class.” The map does in fact offer a point of view that is often overlooked in that it documents numbers arrests, rape, and prostitution. It also offers the point of view of the African American community. Thus, it offers the point of view of someone who is most likely African American, but does not have ties to the more affluent African American community of its time. The map reveals that life in Harlem was much more than black artists and affluent blacks, but filled with real people who faced real struggles as well as made their own achievements, even if they were not famous artists. It obscures a more mainstream view that ignores these events and voices to document those that are not controversial. An alternative map might  contrast Harlem and the culture there to the life and culture that existed outside of Harlem in order to illuminate the racism that existed during the time. For instance, the map might document the places blacks were excluded outside of Harlem or the murders that occurred outside of Harlem in order to demonstrate how Harlem was a refuge from these horrific injustices. This of course, would require two separate maps to be shown side by side, which we learned could be done in class today.