Harlem YMCA

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Harlem YMCA as seen from the east
Harlem YMCA as seen from the east

The Harlem YMCA on West 135th Street is a significant landmark of black culture in New York City. It opened in 1933 intended primarily for the use of African-American men, and was at the time one of the best equipped YMCAs in the United States.[1] Architect James C. MacKenzie, Jr. designed and supervised the construction.

Many notable black Americans have stayed at the facility, including Malcolm X (then Malcolm Little, who chose to stay there because of its close proximity to his favorite nightclubs).[2] Inside, the building boasts a mural by Aaron Douglas titled "Evolution of Negro Dance."

[edit] References

  1. ^ New York Landmarks Preservation Committee plaque, 1999
  2. ^ Malcolm: The Life of the Man Who Changed Black America, Bruce Perry, 1992