Harlem1

 

Broadcast: January 6, 2002
By Lawan Davis

VOICE ONE:

It was home to the great jazz performers Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, poet Langston Hughes, and civil rights activist¹ Malcolm X. I'm Mary Tillotson.

VOICE TWO:
  
And I'm Steve Ember. We tell about the area of New York City known as Harlem in our report today on the VOA Special English program THIS IS AMERICA.

VOICE ONE:

Harlem is a community in the northern part of Manhattan in New York City. Harlem is known throughout the world as the center of African American culture. African American writers, musicians, artists and performers settled there during the nineteen-twenties and nineteen-thirties. This period of artistic² expression is known as the Harlem Renaissance2. Renaissance³ means re-birth.

Later, however, Harlem experienced increased crime and difficult economic conditions. Now the community is in the process of great improvements. Many people are calling it Harlem's Second Renaissance.

VOICE TWO:

The Greater Harlem Chamber⁴ of Commerce promotes economic development in the community. Lloyd Williams is director of the organization. Mister Williams says that the recent re-birth of the community is very different from the Harlem Renaissance of the nineteen-twenties. He says this Renaissance is about housing and economic development.
  
Harlem's economy is growing at a fast rate. Workers are rebuilding houses that are falling apart or were simply forgotten. Businesses are being built on almost every main street in Harlem's major business center.

Recent reports show crime rates have decreased sharply⁵. Many people had once moved away because of crime and poor conditions. Now people are coming back to live in Harlem. Real estate agents say it costs less to live in Harlem than in most other areas of Manhattan. People like Harlem because of its lower prices, the interesting details on the houses, the large beautiful parks, and its many cultural events. Former    President Bill Clinton opened an office in Harlem in two-thousand-one.

VOICE ONE:

One of Harlem's greatest economic improvements is the opening of a huge shopping and entertainment center. It is called Harlem USA. It opened in two-thousand-one. The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone provided financial loans for Harlem USA. Five-hundred-fifty-million dollars was spent on Harlem USA and several other projects to renew the community.

For many years nationally known businesses would not open stores in Harlem. The opening of Harlem USA has changed that.Many people of Harlem are happy that national businesses finally recognize that their community should have the same fine stores as other communities.

However, activists⁶ are worried about the small businesses that have remained in Harlem through the difficult times. These businesses are said to be the spirit of Harlem. Yet, they have not been offered loans to help their businesses. The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone says an increase in shoppers and visitors to the area will help the small businesses.

VOICE TWO:

Long before there was Harlem USA, Harlem was just farmland. Dutch people settled in Harlem in sixteen-fifty-eight. They named it after a city in the Netherlands.

In eighteen-thirty-seven the New York and Harlem Railroad Company completed a railroad link from Harlem to lower Manhattan. Rich immigrant families became interested in living in Harlem. Newly developed, high-priced homes were being built on the land.

Harlem had become one of the finest areas of the city for white people. This changed in nineteen-oh-one, when a black real estate agent named Philip Payton influenced white landowners to rent their property to black families. Harlem quickly became the largest African American community in the United States.

(MUSIC: "DROP ME OFF IN HARLEM" / Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald)

VOICE ONE:

Musician Duke Ellington and singer Ella Fitzgerald were among many blacks who became well known during the Harlem Renaissance. White people began to note the sudden increase of black culture that was happening there.

The rich writings of James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neal Hurston and others are as important to the Harlem Renaissance as the music of that time. Here is a recording⁷ of poet Langston Hughes reading his poem "I Too."

(LANGSTON HUGHES)

VOICE TWO:

Harlem continues to be known throughout the world for its importance in the arts. For example, the Dance Theater of Harlem was founded in nineteen-sixty-nine by former New York City Ballet dancer Arthur Mitchell. Mister Mitchell says he wanted to provide new chances for young people in the mostly black and Hispanic community following the murder of civil rights leader Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior. The Dance Theater of Harlem has performed throughout the United States and in many other countries.

VOICE ONE:

Another artistic treasure is the Boys Choir⁸ of Harlem. Its founder⁹ and musical director is Walter Turnbull. In nineteen-sixty-eight twenty boys came to a Harlem church to form a singing group or choir. Over the years the choir has grown in size and skill. Now there are two-hundred-fifty members. The group has received international praise for performances of classical music, gospel3 and spirituals4, show tunes¹⁰, jazz and popular songs. Listen as the Boys Choir of Harlem sing "Heroes."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

The famous Apollo Theater in Harlem opened in nineteen-fourteen. From the nineteen-thirties to the nineteen-seventies, the Apollo was the center of black entertainment in New York City and northeastern America. Musicians, singers, dancers and people who told funny stories performed there.

People traveled from different parts of the United States to compete at the Apollo Theater's famous Amateur¹¹ Night. Amateur Night is a competition for nonprofessional performers. Some winners later became well known performers. Past winners of the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night competition include Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Sarah Vaughn and the Jackson Five.

VOICE ONE:

The Apollo Theater has recently received some needed repairs. The theater is producing great performances again. A show called "Harlem Song" told the history of  Harlem through music, dance, and historic¹² pictures. Here is a song from the show. It is called "One Word."

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Today Harlem is still a mostly African American community. However, people of other ethnic¹³ groups live there too. Irish, Italian, Dominican, Haitian, Puerto Rican, West African, and other people live side by side.

Harlem is a community that has seen the worst of economic times. Yet its citizens maintain a welcoming spirit. Harlem is one of the most popular places for visitors to New York City.

While Harlem is proud of its rich history as the center of African American culture, the community moves toward the future. Experts say Harlem has much to look forward to in its Second Renaissance.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

This program was written and produced by Lawan Davis. I'm Mary Tillotson.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Steve Ember. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United States on the VOA Special English program THIS IS AMERICA.
1. harlem [5hB:l[m] n. （纽约的）黑人住宅区
2. renaissance [r[5neIs[ns] n. 复兴，文艺复兴时期
3. gospel [5gCsp[l] n. 福音，[俗]信仰，真理
4. spiritual [5spIrItju[l] adj.精神上的

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

3 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

4 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

5 sharply   

adj.锐利地，急速；adv.严厉地，鲜明地

参考例句：

• The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
• Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

8 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

9 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

10 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 amateur   

adj.业余的，非专业的；n.业余爱好者

参考例句：

• He made an amateur attempt to build a cupboard.他很外行地试做了一个碗柜。
• Although Tom's only an amateur he's a first-class player.虽然汤姆只是个业余爱好者，但却是一流的高手。

12 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

13 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。