In his autobiography, Malcolm X admitted that 'one of my biggest surprises' was that 'Harlem hadn't always been a community of Negroes.' If that surprises you too then you must read this book. Kevin McGruder takes us back in time to a Harlem on the cusp of dramatic change. He shows us uptown Manhattan before Harlem was in vogue. With ... Read moreincredible research and fascinating characters, Race and Real Estate unveils the complicated social and business processes that changed Harlem from an interracial neighborhood into the most recognizable black community in the world.
Brian Purnell, Bowdoin College [A] fact-filled book... enlivened by personal accounts. The New York Times [Race and Real Estate] challenges the standard saga of the rise of black urban communities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Thoroughly researched, the book is an extremely useful reinterpretation of the subject... Recommended. Choice McGruder has written a good book and an important revision that should be read alongside the classic texts of 'ghetto formation.'
Nathan Cardon H-SHGAPE [A] fine work of historical scholarship and incisive interventions in the history of Harlem... [McGruder's] care for the place and its people shines through in [his] meticulous research and forceful arguments. American Historical Review [Race and Real Estate] offers unique perspectives on Harlem's history and reveals the complex interactions between whites and African Americans at a critical time of migration and development. The New York History blog This book is a valuable contribution to the history of Harlem in that it provides detail and nuance to the story of the development of Harlem as a black community, painting a more detailed picture that was available before.
James M. Lloyd Journal of Historical Geography Show Less