Instruct students to work in pairs to research historical background on the New York City neighborhood of Harlem. Have them use the internet or library resources to find answers to the following questions, and then check understanding through a full class discussion before moving on.

• Where is Harlem? Describe its geography.
• When did Harlem become a Black community? Why did Black Americans move there at this time in history?
• What are the current demographics of Harlem? Find at least three statistics about Harlem’s residents that you find important or interesting.
• Define gentrification, and explain its significance to Harlem today.
• What are two important Harlem landmarks related to the Harlem Renaissance?

Then, distribute James Weldon Johnson’s essay “The Making of Harlem” to students, and instruct them to read it individually, perhaps for homework, if this activity spans two lessons. (Teachers should be careful to note that Johnson uses the term “aliens” to describe immigrants, and while this term still appears in some legal documents, it is dehumanizing and students should avoid using it to describe people from other countries.) With their partners from the research task, students should analyze the document together using the OPCVL protocol. Conclude with a full class discussion using the following questions:

• How did Johnson’s essay add to your understanding of Harlem?
• Why do you think Harlem was the center of the Black Renaissance?
• Johnson asks in the essay: “Are the Negroes going to be able to hold Harlem?” To what extent does gentrification threaten the persistence of a Black community in Harlem?