Welcome To The HarlemAmerica Newsroom Features - November 2026
The Gift That Keeps Giving: Why Buying Black Matters More Than Ever
Buying Black can bring joy to the people on your gift list while supporting the businesses behind the gifts. Our November cover story explores Harlem’s entrepreneurial legacy, the economic realities facing Black owners, and the power of shopping with intention year-round.
Miracle on 125th Street: The HarlemAmerica 2026 Gift Guide
FeaturedNovember 1, 2026
The best gifts feel personal. Discover eleven picks for the cooks, culture lovers, hosts, and style originals on your list, featuring Harlem-rooted makers and standout Black-owned brands.
Uptown Calling: Shop in Harlem for the Holidays
FeaturedNovember 1, 2026
Bring holiday shopping back Uptown. Visit thirteen Harlem-connected businesses for books, distinctive style, sweet treats, fragrances, and gifts with real neighborhood character.
Black Luxury to Indulge Your Most Generous Gifting Impulses
FeaturedNovember 1, 2026
Luxury is more interesting when it has a point of view. Explore six gifts in fragrance, leather, jewelry, and design from Black-founded creative houses.
Give More Meaning on a Small Budget: Nine Black-Owned Gifts Under $50
FeaturedNovember 1, 2026
A memorable gift does not need a big price tag. Shop nine expressive finds under $50, from illustrated books and tea to a Harlem Boy Collection mug and heavyweight tee.
Let Their Imaginations Lead: Seven Holiday Gifts for Children
FeaturedNovember 1, 2026
Let imagination lead. Seven gifts—from Harlem picture books and dolls to puzzles, crayons, and a coding kit—invite children to see themselves, play boldly, and keep asking questions.
Beyond the Ordinary: Five Gifts You Won’t Find on Every Shelf
FeaturedNovember 1, 2026
For the person who has seen everything at the mall, look somewhere else. Discover five gifts with independent creative visions, from woven baskets to statement artwork and jewelry.
HarlemEntertainment Desk
Where Style Meets Power: African and African American Models Reshaping Fashion
African and African American models are redefining global fashion power in 2026, leading runways, campaigns, and cultural change across the industry.
Keke Palmer - Modern Mogul in Harlems Mirror
HarlemAmerica explores how Keke Palmer—a trailblazing actor, author, and entrepreneur—has built an empire rooted in authenticity, ownership, and cultural pride. From Broadway’s Cinderella to KeyTV’s digital revolution, Palmer uses Harlem’s legacy of empowerment as both validation and inspiration for a new generation of creators.
Want to Start a Health & Wellness Podcast? Some Things to Consider
26% of podcast listeners polled by Nielsen were interested in health-related podcasts. Here are some things to consider if you want to start a health and wellness podcast.
Cynthia Erivo: Built From Voice and Vision
Cynthia Erivo’s legacy is still unfolding, but its foundation is already clear. She is not merely collecting accolades; she is reshaping the rooms she enters.
Powerful Black Women in Country Music Have Been There All Along
African American women have broken down boundaries and made substantial contributions to country music throughout the years.
Colman Domingo: A Blueprint for Cultural Power and Identity
Colman Domingo’s journey from Philadelphia to Hollywood is a blueprint for cultural power, creative control, and redefining Black identity in modern storytelling.
Mama Foundation For The Arts - 2025 Holiday Concert Replay
Get into the holiday spirit with a soul-stirring celebration of faith, community, and song — filmed live in Harlem and presented by HarlemAmerica.
HarlemBusiness Desk
The Truth: Every Black Law Firm Can Host a Produced Podcast
We’ve already talked about how easy and beneficial it is for Black business owners to host a produced podcast with HarlemAmerica. Here are some of the biggest benefits of hosting a legal podcast.
3 Tips for Fostering & Supporting Black Businesses
Almost since its inception, Harlem has been a haven of black creativity, pride, and culture.
How to Find and Support Black-Owned Businesses
If you’re focused on fighting systemic racism and want to put your money where your mouth is, here are 7 ways to find Black businesses.
HarlemHistory Desk
Men of Bronze - The Unbroken Legacy of the Harlem Hellfighters
The Harlem Hellfighters — Black and Puerto Rican heroes who fought racism with courage and changed the world with jazz. Their valor on the battlefield and their rhythm in the streets redefined Harlem’s global legacy and the very meaning of American heroism.
Indigenous Harlem - Unceded Ground, Shared Futures
Beneath Harlem’s pulse lies a story older than the Renaissance — the unceded Lenape homeland and the shared struggles of Indigenous and African peoples who built it. Together, they’re shaping Harlem’s next chapter: one of remembrance, healing, and solidarity.
Arturo Schomburg and the Sacred Work of Remembering
As Harlem faces the pressures of economic change, the Schomburg Center remains a stabilizing force. It is a place where ancestors speak, where scholars gather, and where community memory is treated as sacred infrastructure.
By Any Means Necessary: The Evolution of the Shabazz Legacy
Explore the enduring legacy of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, and how their vision continues to shape Black power, education, and global human rights.
Before the World Caught On - Peggy Cooper Cafritz Saw Black Artistic Genius
Peggy Cooper Cafritz saw possibility in Black artists before the art establishment supplied its approval. Her historic bequest to the Studio Museum in Harlem now reveals how collecting, education and cultural power can help determine what America remembers.
HarlemLove Desk
Entertainers & Entrepreneurs Who Relocated to Harlem
They weren’t born here, but they live in our neighborhood now. Here are three entertainers who relocated to Harlem.
Our Favorite Harlem Books
Here are some of our favorite books influenced by Harlem. Which one are you picking first?
Soul of Thanksgiving - Gratitude and Grace in Harlem
Harlem’s Thanksgiving transforms gratitude into action — a celebration of soul, service, and flavor. From jerk-glazed turkey to Harlem-made gifts, it’s dignity and grace served hot on 125th Street.
HarlemEmpowerment Desk
Harlem Week 2026 - Honoring Our Legacy and Building Harlem's Future
Discover Harlem Week 2026, the annual celebration of culture, community, business, music, and leadership that continues to shape Harlem's future while honoring its historic legacy.
By Any Means Necessary: The Evolution of the Shabazz Legacy
Explore the enduring legacy of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, and how their vision continues to shape Black power, education, and global human rights.
Reclaiming Our Radiance: Black Health Equity in 2026
In 2026, Black communities are redefining health through culture, food, and collective power. From Harlem to cities nationwide, a new era of health equity is rising.
The Fortress on 125th - The Urban League's New Stronghold
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.
PROSTATE CANCER - A Silent Crisis Facing African-American Men
In the fight for health equity, prostate cancer stands out as one of the most urgent issues facing African American men. Though it affects men of all races, its toll is particularly heavy in our community.
Intentionally Buy Black - Navigating The Global Black Marketplace
Your dollar has power. Make it work for the culture. Read our guide to global Black-owned businesses you can support today.
Welcome To
The HarlemAmerica Newsroom
Features - November 2026
HarlemEntertainment Desk
Melba Moore, A Legendary Voice That Will Not Break
From Harlem jazz roots to Broadway triumphs, disco-era success, devastating betrayal, and spiritual rebirth, Melba Moore’s extraordinary journey remains one of the greatest stories of resilience in Black American music history.
Black, Beautiful and Undead: Vampire in Brooklyn and the Joy of Black Horror
Black horror has always known how to make fear political, laughter protective and darkness look magnificent. From Blacula and Ganja & Hess to Blade, Get Out and Vampire in Brooklyn, Black filmmakers have transformed the genre—and Harlem is ready to talk back to the screen.
Black Girl Magic: The Women Who Changed The Sound of R&B
Before today’s genre-bending superstars, Black women in the 1970s transformed harmony, soul, funk, disco, and style into a revolutionary new sound that reshaped modern R&B forever.
Mama Foundation For The Arts - 2025 Holiday Concert Replay
Get into the holiday spirit with a soul-stirring celebration of faith, community, and song — filmed live in Harlem and presented by HarlemAmerica.
A Legendary Singer's Singer, Chanté Moore
The legendary R&B and jazz singer Chanté Moore has left an everlasting impression on the music industry with her rich, expressive voice and adaptable style.
Architect of Her Own Destiny: Dominique Fishback Blueprint for Stardom
Explore how Dominique Fishback rose from East New York to Hollywood acclaim, redefining Black storytelling through powerful, transformative performances.
Recap: Harlem Week 2021
Harlem Week 2021, “Rebirth. Rebuild. Rejoice.” is over. In case you missed it, here are some of our favorite moments from Harlem Week.
HarlemBusiness Desk
Creative Ways to Incorporate A Podcast Into Your Business
Podcasts are a great way to boost your business reputation and create entertainment and social media buzz around your brand and your expertise.
Creating Global Content
The market for content keeps growing and is expanding within the US as well as internationally. We wanted to share some great tips for creating global content.
The McKissack Blueprint: 200 Years of Black Excellence
Discover the 200-year legacy of McKissack & McKissack and how one Black family built excellence, equity, and generational power across America.
Editorial Note: Several Corrections have been made to this feature. We apologize for any inaccuracies.
Harlem's New Vanguards - Gen Z and Millenials Entrpreneurship
Harlem’s hustle has a new generation. From AI-driven startups and wellness collectives to fashion disruptors and food visionaries, Gen Z & Millennial entrepreneurs are carrying the torch with style, soul, and purpose.
HarlemEmpowerment Desk
Harlem Week 2026 - Honoring Our Legacy and Building Harlem's Future
Discover Harlem Week 2026, the annual celebration of culture, community, business, music, and leadership that continues to shape Harlem's future while honoring its historic legacy.
By Any Means Necessary: The Evolution of the Shabazz Legacy
Explore the enduring legacy of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz, and how their vision continues to shape Black power, education, and global human rights.
Reclaiming Our Radiance: Black Health Equity in 2026
In 2026, Black communities are redefining health through culture, food, and collective power. From Harlem to cities nationwide, a new era of health equity is rising.
The Fortress on 125th - The Urban League's New Stronghold
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.
PROSTATE CANCER - A Silent Crisis Facing African-American Men
In the fight for health equity, prostate cancer stands out as one of the most urgent issues facing African American men. Though it affects men of all races, its toll is particularly heavy in our community.
Intentionally Buy Black - Navigating The Global Black Marketplace
Your dollar has power. Make it work for the culture. Read our guide to global Black-owned businesses you can support today.
HarlemHistory Desk
Quick History of Harlem
Harlem, often dubbed the Mecca of black culture, has history bursting out of every brownstone. So many people, places, and events that sparked global conversations and movements came from this neighborhood in NYC.
Hidden Genius, Global Impact: HarlemAmerica Unveils Five New Episodes of Wait… A Black Person Invented That
HarlemAmerica Originals releases five new episodes of Wait… A Black Person Invented That, spotlighting Black innovators whose inventions shaped modern life.
August 28th: A Powerful Day for Black History
In 2016, prominent Black filmmaker Ava DuVernay (Selma, Queen Sugar producer) created a short documentary film as the Orientation film for Washington, D.C.’s Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Madiba's Enduring Flame: Nelson Mandela's Legacy and His Unbreakable Bond with Harlem
When Nelson Mandela stepped onto the streets of Harlem in 1990, it wasn't just the arrival of a global statesman. It was the return of a long-lost brother. This month we remind you of that connection.
The Events That Shaped Our Present African-American Reality
There have been watershed moments and major accomplishments for the African American community in the past sixty years. These moments have altered the trajectory of history, elevated civil rights, and cleared the path for advancement. . .
HarlemLove Desk
Reasons to Love Harlem
Harlem is known for live jazz music, soul food rest Harlem is known for live jazz music, soul food restaurants, and many monuments and historic landmarks dedicated to the Black experience in America. So today, let’s talk about some of the many reasons to love Harlem.
Lloyd Williams Lifting Harlem Higher
We pay tribute to Lloyd A. Williams, longtime CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of Harlem Week. He leaves behind a legacy that reshaped Harlem’s cultural and economic life. From building institutions to mentoring generations, he was the architect of Harlem’s Second Renaissance.
The Schomburg Center: A Century of Soul and Scholarship
In Harlem, history isn’t just remembered, it’s alive. Now, as the Schomburg turns 100, we don’t just mark a milestone, we honor a movement.