Yeah but I love watching him too. I like the visual format and the way he uses his entire body / facial expressions as he tells a story ( and makes me laugh)
In the early 80's when I attended Columbia, my family and friends told me to never venture into Harlem and stay south of the school. Naturally I never listened and had a great time in Harlem.
Ugh. My beautiful Harlem. This hurts my heart. Harlem def raised me. I walked to 125th street every weekend just to buy records and sneakers. I lived 10 blocks north but 125th felt like family 2 blocks away. Harlem will always have my heart.
I know for a fact how passionate you are against gentrification…many of your viewers don’t realize how serious you can be in person because of the antics and humor you show on camera…but me having taken your tour I can tell people how dead serious you get when speaking on gentrification and the same things you’re talking about in this video….I encourage everyone to take your tour so you can take them to places and people who where around before the gentrification of Manhattan.
@@juancito455 you obviously haven’t taken the tour…you just decided to talk with no knowledge of what your talking about…but please tell me…how is he walking gentrification? He totally supports local business that been in the area he gives tours for decades and encouraged whoevers on the tour to support them…businesses that where there before gentrification …but you wouldnt know this because you just decided to talk with zero knowledge of what you’re talking about..plus he’s a Latino, he not white…so how can he be walking and breathing gentrification if he’s the race of people who are being moved out because of gentrification? seriously dude, don’t comment on shit you don’t know about 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
I live in a Brooklyn brownstone 17 yrs and because of Gentrification i sadly have to move i love history and im glad u were able to experience what u did ❤❤
This was less about landmarks as it was about politics of the changing times, but I’m here for it. I’d rather hear these truths than see what the 10 best rooftop brunch spots in midtown are. This is your magic, Tom. I call it the Bourdain Factor. Keep it going.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him in some type of public office later on in his life. He speaks so passionately about preserving the individual cultures of each area.
Tom, thank you for such a concise yet accessible description of gentrification. I live in one of the most historically deprived communities in Liverpool, England (according to the UK Index of Multiple Deprivation) Developers & out of town speculators have been buying up all the properties for a few years now, forcing/pricing local working class families out in the process. I felt as though you were describing my neighbourhood and the local government officials who ‘manage’ it. The sad reality is, it is the same story in countless communities. The disparities grow as the harsh realities of life for many, are stealthily hidden from the view of those who can afford to pay not to see it. Gratitude & love 🙏🏼❤️
Hey Tom brilliant video. I love Harlem. Many happy memories from the Apollo. So much rich, iconic cultural and Civil Rights History. Especially important that you're creating this historical record that can't be erased. Thank you, Sir. All the best Puck in NOLA.
Thanks, Tom. I appreciate your obvious passion and COMpassion around gentrification. A lot of history doesn't happen by accident. Deliberate policy shapes what our lives look like.
Well said Tom, a City is much more than it's tax revenue, what makes New York great is it’s diversity. New York might not be the biggest, tallest City in the world but it still reigns as the worlds most diverse, by far.
Congrats on 60k Tom! Been here since 17K I think. This vid will be great. We used to live just beside Marcus Garvey Park a few years ago but we're back home in New Zealand right now. Will be back in the big apple one day soon we hope. Cheers mate keep up the tremendous work.
Im in Brooklyn Bed Stuy and Gentrafication is forcing me out after 17 yrs im heartbroken some 1 should address the emotional things people go through when they have to b uprooted from what they may consider their HOME 😢😢
Tom if you're ever going to revise this important video, please let me know and as a native New Yorker I'll give you some important historical information about Harlem. FYI my father was born at 144th Street and Eighth Avenue - now called Frederick Douglass Boulevard.
I love bingeing these videos on a Sunday morning/ afternoon they’re so cool and Tom is so knowledgeable about NYC, it’s great to see someone passionate about something so wholesome and interesting also love the comedy injected for good measure.
Tom I'm coming to NY on Friday. I checked out the crime scene in Highland Park today. Very sad. The whole downtown section of Highland Park was closed off. As the FBI collects evidence. Highland Park is on of the nicest suburbs in the Chicago area. Michael Jordan used to live in Highland Park.
Great videos Tom. I especially enjoyed this video. I lived in Harlem and it made me feel bad that I would just aimlessly walk around the neighborhood and not explore it's history (I actually lived down the street from Hamilton Grange). There's so much interesting history behind just about every building in NYC and I'm glad you teaching it to people.
Harlem is the only place in the US where I feel at home. As a black immigrant to the US is the only place where I feel like I belong and aspire for the best the city has to offer. Thanks for this video
Fantastic historic tour. Always I had curiosity over the Harlem origins, Tom gave the answer. A lot of knowledge for understand the USA nowadays. Congratulations Tom.👏👏👏
Dude i totally feel you in this heat an humidity..chafing like a mofo when i went to NYC ..i never knew what the hell chafing was till i went to NYC 😂😂😂😂✌
Absolutely awesome, Tom no kidding your a smart dude!!! Lots of great history information, which I loved because I love history also. You and Eric da bomb. Cindy from the huge town of Montrose Colorado. Excellent😁
Great video, Tom. 👍👍👍 It was very informative and very entertaining. Thanks, for the upload. Love the content of your videos. Keep up the great work.👍😊
One of the realest videos you've done Tom much appreciated. And you're speaking pure facts regarding the gentrification of harlem....I've been in harlem since 1979 and the changes and displacement of people here is disgusting
In 92 i was working as a tradesman in a whare house on 135 and 12. when the kiko garcia riots happened.. i drove down 125 from the triborough and it was on fire. in the ally of the whare house was like 3 thousand cops in riot gear about to take back the streets...... good times..... a memorable job... shootings squeegge men... drugs. my first day im a white guy on 135 and 12 at 630 am... some guy come screaming and running up the block... i have a bum ankle if im running its the apoclyps. im about to run for my life... it was a friend from grade school who recognized me 2 blocks away. cant believe thats 30 yrs ago!! like yesterday.... rip ollie
Good good Tom!!💪🏽💪🏽 I wish you spoke about Morningside Hights, Riverside drive, Harlem river drive, Lenox lounge, cotton club, general grant memorial, the cathedral church of st. John...👍🏽
125th Street was actually rezoned for smaller buildings. Before the 2008 rezoning, the existing 1961 zoning had no height restriction on buildings along 125th Street effectively allowing a World Trade Center to be built on 125th Street. After the rezoning of 2008, 125th Street finally had height restrictions to new buildings. Btw, love these videos
After that video, "Tom for Mayor!" 🇺🇸, think about it. A great insight into local NY politics is, Decade of Fire : burning of the Bronx, its on RU-vid. Hightly recommended viewing.
Love this video and the richness in history. I am also glad that you mention the "G" word since it what keeps happening in alot of urban areas. And I agree that not enough people get involved in city / state politics because they feel federal is most important but our cities need more help.
I'm British, so I know absolutely nothing about American history. But I feel like I'm in the right place to learn. Such an informative video. Thank you
