EP 09. Harlem
“Once a ‘Danger Zone,’
Now NYC’s Most Colorful Harlem”
(“우범지대는 옛말 뉴욕서 가장 다채로운 할램“)
Featured in FASHION BIZ Magazine
Forget the Harlem you’ve seen in old movies! Once infamous, this neighborhood has now become one of New York’s most vibrant melting pots — a place where an academic atmosphere meets a uniquely artistic soul.
Harlem
“Harlem” was one of the neighborhoods that suffered the most during New York’s crime crisis in the 1980s and 1990s. Because of that, many people still think of it as a “scary” or “dangerous” place. But to artists, Harlem holds deep meaning and history.
In the early 20th century — especially during the Harlem Renaissance — Black artists, writers, musicians, and intellectuals gathered here, creating a cultural explosion in literature, music, visual arts, and political thought. Figures like poet Langston Hughes and jazz legend Duke Ellington made Harlem the symbolic center of African American culture in the United States.
← To see the ORIGINAL POST from FASHION BIZ, click the image.
To check my post & official article, PLEASE click the button below! ↓
Comment by Jenny Lee,
New York Specialist (@98jenjen)
“Harlem has gone through many ups and downs from the 1920s to the early 1990s, so it’s understandable that some people still carry the old image of it being a ‘dangerous area.’ For those who haven’t lived in New York long, it might still feel like a neighborhood they’d hesitate to live in or visit. But in truth, Harlem is one of the most historic areas of New York City — the very starting point of Manhattan itself. It’s like a ‘hidden gem’ that contains all of Manhattan’s charm in one place.
Harlem is huge, divided into West Harlem, Central Harlem, and East Harlem, and each area has its own distinct vibe. As you walk through the streets, you might suddenly feel like you’ve entered a completely different neighborhood — that’s how diverse and unique it is. I constantly found myself thinking, ‘Wow, this area would actually be such a fun and livable place.’ Outside of New York and California, it’s rare to find such a mix of cultures and ethnicities in one community. It’s no wonder New York is called a ‘bubble’ or a ‘melting pot.’
Some parts of Harlem remind me of the Upper West Side with their cozy, family-oriented atmosphere. Areas filled with universities and jazz bars feel a lot like the Lower East Side. Around Columbia University, it almost feels like Midtown, while the sections full of multicultural energy are reminiscent of Downtown or Brooklyn. In short, Harlem is a neighborhood that embodies all the different colors of New York.
It’s also one of the largest neighborhoods in Manhattan, so there are many schools here. In particular, the northern part of Harlem is home to Columbia University and its affiliated hospital, the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, giving the area an academic and medical vibe. I saw students and healthcare workers everywhere I went. And since I visited right as the new semester was starting, the streets were full of people — from kindergarteners to college students, professionals to street vendors — all blending together and showing just how dynamic this city really is.”
This will be my final [From New York] photo story for 2025, as I take a brief pause due to personal circumstances.
I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported and followed this series —
capturing the essence of New York’s neighborhoods and people has been an incredible journey.
[From New York] will return next year with new perspectives, fresh creative energy, and exciting stories to share. Please stay tuned for upcoming updates —
I can’t wait to continue this series with even greater depth and inspiration.
All the best,
Jenny Lee