Review: Harlem Heights on BET, A New Movement For Young Black Professionals

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When the new BET Reality series Harlem Heights premiered on Monday, March 2, 2009, I was quite excited that finally, the network that gets beat upon for displaying so much negative imagery of the African American community, was going to show something positive.

Langston Hughes, poet

Dubbed as the “New Harlem Renaissance” in the opening lines by the narrator, Bridget, a law school student, who is also one of the cast members, she states that Harlem Heights is all about, “Redefining what it is to be a Harlemite”. Now, when I think of the Harlem Renaissance, I am put into the mindset of my favorite poet Langston Hughes, Dorothy West,

The Wedding by Dorothy West

author of The Wedding, and artist, Aaron Douglass, creator of God’s Trombones. I will also admit that, in the past few years, when Harlem has been mentioned in mainstream news, as it underwent a gentrification, as did many major urban cities in America, and many areas were taken over by up and coming, young, White professionals, seeking to live where cool once resided, the image of Harlem that I had in my head as this place of great culture and history, had begun to change. Harlem Heights shows us that the opposite is taking place and that the young, affluent, African American professionals are reclaiming their stake in the area once known as the heart of Black American art and culture.

I must admit, I was quite impressed with Harlem Heights for a few reasons. For one, I think that BET used perfect timing in choosing to air this show and began filming 24 hours prior to the night of the election of the nation’s first Black President, Barack Obama. As the show opens, I am reminded of where I was on Election night, as they introduced us to the eight cast members, gathered at the Mocha Lounge in Harlem, viewing the historic political victory with other friends. Several cast members expressed their hope in this moment of inspiration and the notion that, now, from this point on, as one cast member stated, “There is no room for excuses to do better”.

And the cast of characters includes: Ashlie, an aspiring actress and bartender; Christian, lifestyle editor for Dime Magazine, dubbed the “heartbreaker”; Briana, a designer for Victoria’s Secret PINK; Jason, a Harlem native, looking to do work in the community through mentoring young men, and a devoted young father; Bridget, the narrator, known as “Ms. Independent”, a law student, and an aspiring writer; London, son of Larry Dais, a community activitst, also an aspiring community leader, Brooke, ex-girlfriend of Kanye West and Briana’s BFF, and Pierre, a former college athlete, good looking (very good looking), committed to his work in low income housing development.

And while I won’t go into detail with my opinions about this long list of characters, what I will say is that you have a typical group of young men and women in their 20′s who are dealing with the angst of being single, creating professional lives for themselves, and dealing with the ups and downs of relationships. The narrator states that, as we redefine Harlem, we have “Great responsibilities, a complicated (state of ) lonelieness, combined with common interests”, all issues that I’m sure the originators of what Alaine Locke termed as “The New Negro Movement”, known to us all as The Harlem Renaissance, had to contend with as they sought to define themselves in the New America that they found themselves thrust into during the Great Migration.

Oh, and speaking of complications, did I mention the attitudes? Yes, there is plenty of attitudes on Harlem Heights, which is to be expected, and has become a typical staple on most African American focused reality shows, as we have witnessed on BET’s Baldwin Hills, College Hill, and Bravo TV’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta. But that’s to be expected, because, that’s just how we are (I will be the first to admit it), it’s real and I’m glad America gets to see that our attitudes, although rude sometimes, stem from our having to find and maintain our places in our social groups, having to stake our claim to our territory, and having to defend ourselves to those outside of our immediate circles. And yes, I will take it old school and say, It’s A Black Thang, You Wouldn’t Understand!

But in all seriousness, I do believe that Harlem Heights is a very much needed reality show and is a complete contrast from BET’s Keyshia Cole Show and The Brothas, which both portray the often dysfunctional side of how some Black family’s are operating within the realm of fame and stardom. Harlem Heights brings us back to center by showing us, for the most part, ordinary young African American professionals seeking to be successful, who are putting into practice the CHANGE that President Obama preached, all throughout his campaign.

As the show closes, we are brought up to the very moment when the announcement was made that Barack Obama had become President of the United States of America, November 4, 2008. There were tears, handshakes, fist bumps, and bear hugs, all with the idea that this is now a new day. I was also impressed with the fact that BET showed clips of images of a multicultural crowd gathered outside in Harlem on Election Night 2008, welcoming in our new President, Black, White, Latino, and their children, all standing together.

As the show closed, the narrator, Bridget stated that now, as the faces of this New Harlem, they will be charged with “New change, new responsibilities, and an opportunity to put down new roots” and Pierre, the low income housing developer stated that, “It’s time to put aside our differences, this is (truly) America now”. Indeed it is.

Watch upcoming episodes of BET’s Harlem Heights, 10pm EST, Monday nights. To view clips of last week’s episode and behind the scenes footage visit BET.

Cast of Harlem Heights, Mondays at 10pm, EST, BET

As a cultural critic for lifestyle30 magazine (http://lifestyle30.wordpress.com), my goal is to review various art forms from a sociological, political, and cultural point of view. When I listen to the music, watch a film, or read a book, I try to ask myself several questions: “How does this art form affect me emotionally, physically, and psychologically, How does it affect society?, What impact does it or will it have on society, culture, and the art world? What statement might it be making about society?, Is it a positive or negative message?, or Why do I think others should or should not listen, see, or view it?”

I’m also not immune to the idea that some music, some movies, and some art is for just plain fun because we definitely need some fun in our lives, and we all should recognize that all art is not meant to become an anthem or statement for change.

My hope is to use the backdrop of social justice, relationships, race, culture, gender, politics, and the media to contextualize my reviews that I present to you and to challenge you to examine the impact of various art forms that are presented to you, for yourselves.

Tagged as: Harlem Heights, Sports & Entertainment, TV

Article by Kellea Tibbs

I am originally from Cleveland, Ohio and attended Kent State University, graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice in 1997.I have 10+ years of professional experience in Higher Education working in Student Affairs and I currently work as an instructor at a local community college in the Cleveland area. I also have my own freelance writing business called Ivy Writer Media (www.ivywritermedia.com).With my work, I believe that we should follow our passions and my motto is: "Here On Earth, God's Work Must Truly Be Your Own" (Dick Goodwin, Speechwriter). I believe that writing and teaching are my gifts and that I should share them with others.I am also the President of the Kent State University Black Alumni Chapter and is a Co-Chair for an organization called Cleveland Young & Powerful, which is a chapter of a national organization called Young and Powerful (www.youngandpowerful.org) whose goal is to continue the momentum that was a result of the successful election of President Barack Obama and create business, social, and political networking events in and around the city of Cleveland. I am also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.You can read more and also follow me on: http://lifestyle30.wordpress.com (pop culture, events, hip hop for the 30 & Over crowd)http://hollabackblog.wordpress.com (political and social commentary)http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lifestyle30 (radio show)Follow me on Facebook Networked Blogs Application lifestyle30 - http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/lifestyle30/ Hollaback! - http://apps.facebook.com/blognetworks/blog/hollaback/ lifestyle30 presents....radio show page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/lifestyle30-presentsradio-show/58185382375?ref=tsAnd on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ivywriter

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