"They took to the road in Waycross, Georgia..."
The poem begins with a description of the journey African Americans took to
Harlem. Listen for the ways people traveled.
"They brought a call, a song, First heard in the villages of Ghana/Mali/Senegal..."
Listen for ways the poem connects African Americans living in Harlem with
their African heritage. Listen for words about sounds and music.
"Yellow, tan, brown, black, red..."
Listen for the descriptions of the loud colors of Harlem. Listen for the names
of three famous African American athletes whose success keeps hopes alive.
"We hope, we pray... "
Listen for how this part of the poem reflects African Americans' faith.
"A chorus of summer herbs..."
Listen for descriptions of the hot Harlem summer, the food, and the people.
Listen for descriptions of the children who live in Harlem, the kinds of games
they play, their dreams, and what they listen for.
"A weary blues that Langston knew, And Countee sung..."
Listen for references to the Blues-the music that reflected sadness, hard
times, and suffering. Listen for the names of artists (poets, writers, musicians)
who lived and worked in Harlem. Listen for the "language of darkness" and
places in Harlem that "lifted the darkness."
"The uptown A, Rattles past 110th Street..."
The main transportation into and out of Harlem was the subway. Listen for
references to the A train. Listen too, for the different groups from Africa
who now live together in Harlem.
"Squares, blocks, bricks..."
Listen for descriptions of the shapes of things and the sound of gospel music.
Imagine the woman washing vegetables in the sink who sings to the music on
the radio. Imagine the hot walk-up apartments and being teased about how well
you play checkers.
"In Harlem, sparrows sit on fire escapes outside of rent parties
to learn the tunes..."
Notice the repetition of the words, "In Harlem." Listen for the
"serious business"—a poem.
"A huddle of horns, and a tinkle of glass, a note..."
Myers refers to a note that passes from generation to generation. Listen for
the names of those who pass along the note. Is it a written note? Is it a
musical note? Listen too, for words that describe the despair and how an artist
lifts the sadness.
"Place, Sound, Celebration, Memories of feeling..."
Listen for words that tell you how Myers remembers Harlem. Listen for how
the poem ends as it began with a description of a journey that reaches all
the way to Africa. (The Niger is a river in Africa.)
This handout may be printed and distributed for personal or classroom
use only. Copyright 2003, ARTSEDGE and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts. Visit our Web site at http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/.