Walking Into the Heart of Harlem’s Holiday Spirit
On the evening of November 18th, Harlem did what Harlem does best — it shined.
My colleague from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine — where I proudly serve as an faculty adjunct instructor and Director of Professional Communications — joined me for a walk down the legendary 125th Street to take in the Harlem Holiday Lights Parade. As we made our way along the boulevard, we passed a lineup of beautifully decorated floats waiting to roll, including the bright and festive creations from WBLS Radio, Judge J. Machelle Sweeting, and many others. Each float felt like a love letter to the neighborhood, bursting with color, personality, and cultural pride.
A Joyful Crowd and the UniverSoul Circus Energy
When we reached the designated press area, The UniverSoul Circus was already in full swing — entertaining the crowd with the kind of high-energy performance only they can deliver. Families, longtime Harlemites, proud Harlem Americans and visitors from around the world were gathered together, smiling, dancing, and filling the night air with pure joy.
It reminded me once again that Harlem isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling. A feeling that brings people together and turns every event into a community celebration.
Waiting for the Grand Marshal: Harlem’s Own Malik Yoba
As we waited for the parade’s Grand Marshal, actor and Harlem native Malik Yoba, I couldn’t help but think back to my recent interview with him on the Apollo Theater Gala Red Carpet. Seeing him honored in his own neighborhood — in front of his people — felt like a full-circle moment.
When Malik finally arrived, he was immediately surrounded by a constellation of smartphones — fans eager to capture every second. Those of us with media credentials, including HarlemAmerica®️, had to fit in where we could get in and maneuver around the excitement just to get a clear shot. But that’s Harlem love on display, and it was beautiful to witness.
The Parade Begins: Lights, Music & Harlem Pride
Soon, it was time for the floats to make their way down 125th Street. Malik climbed aboard his glowing float filled with community members, fans, and special guests from the 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID).
As the float pulled off and the music swelled, a wave of Harlem pride swept over the boulevard. Children waved, families cheered, storefront lights flickered with color — and I felt once again why this parade has become such a powerful annual tradition.
It’s more than entertainment.
It’s culture.
It’s community.
It’s connection.
A Quick Shift to Another Harlem Celebration
As Malik’s float led the shimmering procession eastward, my colleague Jamela Joseph and I made our way to another important Harlem milestone. We headed over to join our Dean, Dr. Arthur Prancan, at the grand opening celebration of The George — Harlem’s newest hotel and the first Hilton property ever to open in our neighborhood.
The celebration was lively — filled with great music, delicious food, warm conversation, and a spirit of optimism. The hotel was buzzing with excitement and promise, marking yet another step in Harlem’s growing tourism and hospitality landscape.
Harlem: A Place Where Tradition Meets Transformation
What struck me most about that joyous night was how seamlessly Harlem blends its history with its future.
On the famed 125th Street, we had the beloved Holiday Lights Parade — an event rooted in community, culture, and tradition. On 126th Steet, a brand-new Hilton hotel was opening its doors, signaling new growth, new opportunities, and new visitors discovering the magic of Harlem.
Only in Harlem can you experience both moments in the same night — and feel them both echo with pride.
Reflecting on Another Magical Night in HarlemAmerica
As I made my way home, I felt grateful to witness yet another chapter of Harlem’s evolving story. These are the moments that remind me why HarlemAmerica exists — to celebrate, honor, and archive the culture and spirit of this incredible neighborhood.
That night was another beautiful reminder that no matter how much Harlem grows, it never loses its soul.
And that, my friends, is why HarlemAmerica will always be…
The Most Soulful Place on Earth®️.
This Month’s Featured Articles
The Studio Museum in Harlem, long a global epicenter for artists of African descent—reopens in 2025 with a groundbreaking new home that redefines what a cultural institution can be. From its radical 1968 loft origins to Sir David Adjaye’s “inverted stoop,” the museum remains Harlem’s beacon of Black creativity, community, and future-making.
Kelly Rowland’s relationship with Harlem runs deeper than red carpets and photo ops. From the Apollo Theater to Harlem Hospital, Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), and local Black-owned restaurants, she blends star power with street-level service. In Harlem, Rowland isn’t visiting—she’s investing, uplifting, and rewriting what celebrity commitment looks like.
The National Urban League’s return to Harlem with its $242 million Empowerment Center marks a bold new era of Black economic sovereignty. Combining affordable housing, a civil rights museum, workforce development, and a self-sustaining headquarters, the center reclaims Harlem’s legacy while shaping the future of social and economic justice.
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson’s story isn’t just about Hollywood greatness, it’s about a lifelong commitment to building, protecting, and funding Black institutions. From Harlem’s stages to Spelman’s arts center and the new Urban Civil Rights Museum, the Jacksons have spent decades transforming activism into infrastructure and legacy into community power.
FeaturedHarlem - The Most Soulful Place On Earth™
Walking Into the Heart of Harlem’s Holiday Spirit. On the evening of November 18th, Harlem did what Harlem does best — it shined.
FeaturedHarlemBusinessHarlemEmpowerment
Your dollar has power. Make it work for the culture. Read our guide to global Black-owned businesses you can support today.
A Quick Shift to Another Harlem Celebration
As Malik’s float led the shimmering procession eastward, my colleague Jamela Joseph and I made our way to another important Harlem milestone. We headed over to join our Dean, Dr. Arthur Prancan, at the grand opening celebration of The George — Harlem’s newest hotel and the first Hilton property ever to open in our neighborhood.
The celebration was lively — filled with great music, delicious food, warm conversation, and a spirit of optimism. The hotel was buzzing with excitement and promise, marking yet another step in Harlem’s growing tourism and hospitality landscape.
Harlem: A Place Where Tradition Meets Transformation
What struck me most about that joyous night was how seamlessly Harlem blends its history with its future.
On the famed 125th Street, we had the beloved Holiday Lights Parade — an event rooted in community, culture, and tradition. On 126th Steet, a brand-new Hilton hotel was opening its doors, signaling new growth, new opportunities, and new visitors discovering the magic of Harlem.
Only in Harlem can you experience both moments in the same night — and feel them both echo with pride.
Reflecting on Another Magical Night in HarlemAmerica
As I made my way home, I felt grateful to witness yet another chapter of Harlem’s evolving story. These are the moments that remind me why HarlemAmerica exists — to celebrate, honor, and archive the culture and spirit of this incredible neighborhood.
That night was another beautiful reminder that no matter how much Harlem grows, it never loses its soul.
And that, my friends, is why HarlemAmerica will always be…
The Most Soulful Place on Earth®️.
Walking Into the Heart of Harlem’s Holiday Spirit
On the evening of November 18th, Harlem did what Harlem does best — it shined.
My colleague from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine — where I proudly serve as an faculty adjunct instructor and Director of Professional Communications — joined me for a walk down the legendary 125th Street to take in the Harlem Holiday Lights Parade. As we made our way along the boulevard, we passed a lineup of beautifully decorated floats waiting to roll, including the bright and festive creations from WBLS Radio, Judge J. Machelle Sweeting, and many others. Each float felt like a love letter to the neighborhood, bursting with color, personality, and cultural pride.
A Joyful Crowd and the UniverSoul Circus Energy
When we reached the designated press area, The UniverSoul Circus was already in full swing — entertaining the crowd with the kind of high-energy performance only they can deliver. Families, longtime Harlemites, proud Harlem Americans and visitors from around the world were gathered together, smiling, dancing, and filling the night air with pure joy.
It reminded me once again that Harlem isn’t just a place — it’s a feeling. A feeling that brings people together and turns every event into a community celebration.
Waiting for the Grand Marshal: Harlem’s Own Malik Yoba
As we waited for the parade’s Grand Marshal, actor and Harlem native Malik Yoba, I couldn’t help but think back to my recent interview with him on the Apollo Theater Gala Red Carpet. Seeing him honored in his own neighborhood — in front of his people — felt like a full-circle moment.
When Malik finally arrived, he was immediately surrounded by a constellation of smartphones — fans eager to capture every second. Those of us with media credentials, including HarlemAmerica®️, had to fit in where we could get in and maneuver around the excitement just to get a clear shot. But that’s Harlem love on display, and it was beautiful to witness.
The Parade Begins: Lights, Music & Harlem Pride
Soon, it was time for the floats to make their way down 125th Street. Malik climbed aboard his glowing float filled with community members, fans, and special guests from the 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID).
As the float pulled off and the music swelled, a wave of Harlem pride swept over the boulevard. Children waved, families cheered, storefront lights flickered with color — and I felt once again why this parade has become such a powerful annual tradition.
It’s more than entertainment.
It’s culture.
It’s community.
It’s connection.
This Month’s Featured Articles
The Studio Museum in Harlem, long a global epicenter for artists of African descent—reopens in 2025 with a groundbreaking new home that redefines what a cultural institution can be. From its radical 1968 loft origins to Sir David Adjaye’s “inverted stoop,” the museum remains Harlem’s beacon of Black creativity, community, and future-making.
Kelly Rowland’s relationship with Harlem runs deeper than red carpets and photo ops. From the Apollo Theater to Harlem Hospital, Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO), and local Black-owned restaurants, she blends star power with street-level service. In Harlem, Rowland isn’t visiting—she’s investing, uplifting, and rewriting what celebrity commitment looks like.
The National Urban League’s return to Harlem with its $242 million Empowerment Center marks a bold new era of Black economic sovereignty. Combining affordable housing, a civil rights museum, workforce development, and a self-sustaining headquarters, the center reclaims Harlem’s legacy while shaping the future of social and economic justice.
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson’s story isn’t just about Hollywood greatness, it’s about a lifelong commitment to building, protecting, and funding Black institutions. From Harlem’s stages to Spelman’s arts center and the new Urban Civil Rights Museum, the Jacksons have spent decades transforming activism into infrastructure and legacy into community power.
FeaturedHarlem - The Most Soulful Place On Earth™
Walking Into the Heart of Harlem’s Holiday Spirit. On the evening of November 18th, Harlem did what Harlem does best — it shined.
FeaturedHarlemBusinessHarlemEmpowerment
Your dollar has power. Make it work for the culture. Read our guide to global Black-owned businesses you can support today.
