Meet Amber
Amber has lived in Harlem her entire life, “I literally grew up in Central Harlem, right across the street from the Carter.” Her father is a lifelong Harlemite and her mother has spent over 40 years in Harlem. They owned an art gallery on 117th between 7th and 8th called the New Harlem Gallery, “They had art from… Bernard Hart, Frank Frazier… Michael Escoffery, beautiful artwork. They were way ahead of their time... Malcolm X was filmed there, used to do a lot of weddings, and my mom was also a caterer. And with them doing weddings and events at the art gallery… so arts and events [are]… how I grew up and… And I think in the late 90's or 2000's, I can't tell you exactly when they had to let the building go… It was just difficult to sustain... I wish they still had it… But it's wonderful to see your parents put energy and love and space here in the community for you to grow up with and have an appreciation for.”
Creativity and respect for the arts has carried from her childhood to now as she has her own business, Amber’s Craft Corner, “We make all kinds of crafts, paper crafts, arts and crafts, decor, parties, events. So [the arts are] still very much prevalent in my life.” One of the ways she expressed her creativity growing up was through Harlem School of the Arts. Harlem School of the Arts is a pivotal place for Amber, “I did attend the Harlem School of the Arts… from age four up until 18. I grew up a classically trained violinist… Grew up being able to travel and play with… Yolanda Adams, Beanie Man, Toni Braxton [and more]… The opportunities that were here in Harlem allowed me to have some really phenomenal experiences” They performed at the VH1 fashion awards, MTV Music Awards, and performed alongside Boys II Men at the Apollo. She reflects, saying, “It shapes you, right? Because… it shows you how to be present, how to… take things seriously, be professional… be dedicated and… take your instrument and your arts seriously. Phenomenal experience. I'm so glad the School is still there for sure.”
“Double Dutch… Rollerblading was a big thing as a teenager… Getting an icee, running in the sprinklers… fire hydrant[s], playing outside. And actually, back in the day, a big thing to do on the weekends would just be walking up 125th street… [and] see and be seen.”
Amber’s childhood experience in Harlem is different from the community we see today, “Well, growing up in Harlem in the eighties was very different than now. You know, it was the height of the crack epidemic, and a lot of buildings were abandoned, so I wouldn't say it was the safest place to live but there was always a sense of community, which was beautiful. My dad is a born and raised Harlemite, and so he grew up in the forties and fifties in Harlem when it was booming, and stayed here and hoped that I could also experience that. So in 2020, I had a baby, and she's getting to experience that now… She's getting the opportunity to see Harlem thriving and beautiful.” Growing up there were business owners in the community who were known to look out for kids on the block, “There was a barber shop on the corner of 118th and 7th, and that was Mr. House. And [he] was always someone who could look out for the kids. And you knew that there were always going to be staples on every block… and those staples were the ones that built the sense of community…” Being outside was every kid’s favorite thing to do. She says, “Double Dutch… Rollerblading was a big thing as a teenager… Getting an icee, running in the sprinklers… fire hydrant[s], playing outside. And actually, back in the day, a big thing to do on the weekends would just be walking up 125th street… The actual mart on 125th was open with food and vendors… That was a Saturday thing to do… walk up and down… see and be seen.”
It’s Harlem or nowhere. Amber has always known that she wanted roots in Harlem, even when she was away for college attending Florida A&M. She knew she would be coming back to Harlem to build her life and continue the legacy of her family, “One thing I remember doing as a child with my dad and that now I get to do with my daughter is we would plant flowers in our planters box, on our stoop… Easter, we would go and take our Easter pictures on the stoop or… in the middle of the island. I have pictures of my grandmother and my dad and my aunts and uncles doing that in the fifties and forties. So it's something that I love… to do now with my daughter… I think the legacy that I get to continue to carry on and build on from my grandparents to my parents and now with me and my daughter is something that I love, and it's right here.” Amber loves staying in the community and supporting local businesses like Nilu, Melba’s, and a favorite from her childhood, Famous Fish Market on 145th. She and her father would often go to M&G’s and Pan Pan, “Places like that, they're not around, but the affection and the love for the memories growing up are still there.”
She says, “[Harlem’s] everything to me… I don't think that I would have the resilience or the creativity or the opportunity or know how to think outside the box… It will always be home.” Amber loves seeing her daughter create memories in the community she grew up in and carrying on traditions, “I love how excited she is to go outside in her neighborhood. To walk anywhere with a toddler takes forever… She wants to- 'I'm gonna go up the ramp. I wanna go down the stoop. 'You know, like, she wants to skip everywhere. She's gotta go, like, handlebar by handlebar on everything. She has to count. But that just means she feels at home, which I love. And that's all I would have wanted. You know, when you're trying to put down roots somewhere for the long haul, you want… the next generation to feel at home and feel safe… and knowing that she does feel that makes me feel happy, confident, sure of this choice, and happy about it, too.”