Harlem, U.S.A.

photography by Bey

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July 22, 2026

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Dawoud Bey's Harlem, U.S.A. is a series of intimate street photographs from 1975–79 that capture the vitality and diversity of Harlem residents. Bey's work aims to give subjects agency, allowing their gazes to meet the viewer's on equal footing.1

Harlem, a district in New York City, has a rich history, notably as the center of the Harlem Renaissance in the early 20th century. While the term "Harlem" was once used synonymously with New York's Black community, by the 21st century, its demographics had diversified significantly due to gentrification and immigration. Bey later revisited Harlem in his Harlem Redux series, documenting the area's transformation.21

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Dawoud Bey
Harlem, U.S.A. and Harlem Redux
…featured photographs from his series Harlem, U.S.A. (1975–79). The intimate street photographs showcase Harlem residents’ lives in their vitality and variety. Elegantly dressed women lean against police barriers on a parade route (e.g., Three Women at a Parade, Harlem, NY [1978] and Two Women at a
Read More
…featured photographs from his series Harlem, U.S.A. (1975–79). The intimate street photographs showcase Harlem residents’ lives in their vitality and variety. Elegantly dressed women lean against police barriers on a parade route (e.g., Three Women at a Parade, Harlem, NY [1978] and Two Women at a
Read More