Les Lester's Chronicle, Message Board

Les Lester's Chronicle, Message Board
[ Les Lester's Chronicle, Message Board ]

Next stop, Harlem.

Posted by Maestro on 2/26/2026, 1:00 pm

We all have our own special way of dealing with grief. I found Harlem resident and jazz pianist Marjorie Elliot's way very interesting and creative. How does she lift her spirits after the tragic death of her son? She surrounds herself with good people and music every Sunday afternoon in her apartment. I know where I am going during my next visit to the big apple. I'm headed for Harlem for a Sunday visit with Marjorie Elliot. Checkout this heartwarming story below.

https://www.afar.com/magazine/30-years-of-jazz-at-marjorie-eliots-harlem-home

Re: Next stop, Harlem.

Posted by gm on 2/26/2026, 2:14 pm, in reply to "Next stop, Harlem."

Oh man, such a wonderful story..
Such a heartbreaking and frustrating story too..

My first Kwanzaa gathering happened in that area of Sugar Hill..
Black Bougie as hell..
Black Afrocentric as hell..
Literati as hell too..
Classic brownstones as hell..
Historical as hell..
Some were black snobs as hell, too.

Then the Wall street Yuppies started moving in..
Buying stuff all over Sugar Hill, Harlem..
Too many dammmmnn Black bougies went for the money instead of retaining the area with its rich AfricanAMerican cultural history..
And the gaddamn corrupt politicians like Charles Rangel, David Dinkins etc, encouraged the gentrification..
Fucck them all!!

Oh man, and Les Payne(Alabama native)..
What can I say about Les Payne, one of the founders of the NABJ? A true roots-grounded AA journalist who made sure the Caribbean community was always covered and highlighted. I can still see Les walking down Eastern Parkway during the West Indian Day Parade/carnival.
RIP LES PAYNE. I love you so. Amen

Anyway, I was not expecting this story on Sugar Hill, and it touches me in many ways.

Re: Next stop, Harlem.

Posted by theone on 2/26/2026, 8:14 pm, in reply to "Re: Next stop, Harlem."

Nice images from the article!

Harlem was the first section of NYC I have visited after I left the JFK airport!! I remember visiting the studio museum of Harlem, a real beacon for Black and African diasporic artists,..also went to Sylvia's restaurant with my ex, indeed Sylvia is the queen of soul food,..I also visited Harlem's main Street, 125th street,...what else? Yes, if you ever go there make sure to visit the striking works on the walls of Harlem Hospital. I was stunned when I first saw it.

Anyway, I have more love for Harlem than Russia, thats for sure. HA!

Re: Next stop, Harlem.

Posted by gm on 2/27/2026, 10:37 am, in reply to "Re: Next stop, Harlem."

Great image of Les Payne!
I love the guy...RIP

He and Gil Noble and Juan Gonzales and Amy Goodman and Samori Marksman, the mighty Earl Caldwell etc were kinda mainstream but had lots of integrity about their craft.
Today's mainstream Black journalists, esp. on tv, are all about the paycheck. They don't even dare call Trumpkkk a racist. Smdh

Such an honor to have met those guys.. props to my brother for taking me around. lol

Re: Next stop, Harlem.

Posted by Maestro on 2/27/2026, 11:03 am, in reply to "Re: Next stop, Harlem."

Previous Message

Re: Next stop, Harlem.

Posted by gm on 2/27/2026, 12:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Next stop, Harlem."

Great piece, but still frustrating!
Those who neglect or forget their cultural history are doomed!

Now fastforward: how do we go from this to "bitches & Hoes", "niggas", "muthafuckas", "bang bang", "WAP/wet ass pussy", insulting Rosa Parks, etc etc?
It's called a cultural meltdown!
And if we don't reverse that trend of Gangsta Rap etc., we are surely doomed!

Go ahead and shoot, see if I care!

btw, she's lost 3 of her five sons already, so imagine her painful memories, yet still educating and trying to uplift her peeps.

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