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Page 7 THE SHOW-DOWN DARK GHETTO AN [[title continued on page 8]] By NEIL LAWRENCE [[box]] Vital and convincing will be "Dark Ghetto". This first installment on a city within a city, is brought to you by Neil Lawrence, and his sympathetic and splendid compilation of facts concerning the much publicized Harlem is typical with those who have actually lived within its boundaries. -EDITOR. [[/box]] SOME years ago, in the section of New York City, now internationally known as Harlem, two men were engaged in conversation. Their theme of discussion was the financial depreciation of a piece of property, an apartment house, belonging to one of them. This apartment house, mortgage ridden and tax eaten, was slowly passing out of the owner's control. This section of the city was, at that time, inhabited by people of German and Jewish origin, who, although they had assimilated the American standard of living, still retained many of the customs, beliefs, and superstitions of the old country. The real estate agent, explaining to the owner, that this particular property was difficult to rent because of a superstition which had become attached to it. Several years past, a frightful tragedy had been enacted on these premises. A number of people had been brutally murdered, and because of this occurence, the rentals were few and collections scarce. A Negro porter, employed by the realtor, was sweeping the office during the conversation. With calm, rhythmical action, he applied his broom to the floor. Suddenly, the sweeps of the broom took on more energy. The face of the porter lighted up in expression, as if there had been an awakening within himself. The porter continued his sweeping. It came time for the owner to leave the premises. Grasping his hat nervously and with a worried look, he started to leave. As he passed through the hallway, he felt a slight tap on his shoulder, he turned and was surprised to see the Negro porter. The porter in hesitancy, said "Excuse me sir, but, about that property of yours, maybe I can help you out of your difficulty." "What do you mean"? relied the owner, laughing at what to him seemed ridiculous, then continuing, "You can help me"! "Well sir," said the porter, "I couldn't help overhearing about your trouble with the property, and if you don't object to colored people in your house, I have an idea." "I never thought of that", replied the owner, becoming more interested, "Go on." "The porter continuing said; "San Juan Hill and the other colored sections are overcrowded. There are many colored folk, who would jump at the opportunity to move here in this neighborhood. You see, they do not know anything about the superstition." The owner, who by this time, was intensely interested and who, out of desperation, had no time to think of the feelings of the surrounding white neighborhood, invited the porter into the office to talk over the matter more thoroughly and if possible, to come to a working agreement. In that office the Dark Ghetto was born -- Harlem -- the metropolis of the darker races, a haven of refuge and opportunity, where Black is White and White is Black. The porter of this introduction, was Philip Payton, the founder of the Payton Realty Corporation. Through his shrewd real estate investments, he amassed a fortune. Harlem, to the average mind, has become associated with the Negro and his achievements. It has not always been so. Originally the Negro Settlement centered around One-Hundred and Thirty-Third Streets, a small group of people migrating from the other Negro settlements, gradually increasing in territory until at present it covers a vast acreage. What is known about Harlem today is bound by One-Hundred and Tenth Street on the South, and One Hundred and Fifty-Fifth Street on the North - on the East by the East River and on the West by Morningside Avenue. Gradually the settlement of darker people has grown until it takes in all the above territory, overflowing into sections of Washington Heights on the North. It is one of the finest Sections of the city, with wide Avenues and broad Streets. There are many outstanding buildings and well kept homes. Harlem, today, to the close observer, becomes the Singapore or Zanzibar of America. A city within a city, sinister and mysterious to the outsider, bewildered by the problem presented to him. An endless procession of faces of every shade and hue, from the indistinguishable Nordic type to the pure blooded Black African. Pink, olive, golden brown, yellow, reddish, brown, high brown, dark brown and black, they pass in parade.
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