Whereas Harlem is a treasure of New York and throughout its history has played a significant role in shaping the culture and political landscape of the United States; Whereas the name Harlem is inextricably connected to its history and legacy; Whereas since the early 20th century, Harlem has been recognized internationally as a major residential, cultural, and business center with a strong Black history; Whereas the Harlem Renaissance attracted the greatest African American writers, artists, musicians, and thinkers from across the country and allowed these intellectuals to fully express themselves and thrive in their fields; Whereas the Harlem Renaissance redefined how the United States and the world viewed African Americans and continues to inspire African American artists and intellectuals to this day; Whereas Harlem is an icon and capital of the African Diaspora; Whereas thousands of foreigners travel to Harlem for tourism each week to learn about and see the history of the neighborhood; Whereas love for Harlem runs through the veins of longtime residents and instantly inspires those who visit; Whereas the deep love that residents’ have for Harlem can be found for similarly historical and influential neighborhoods around the world; Whereas Harlem is a state of mind and way of being, and residents have long possessed resilience, pride, and fearlessness; Whereas Congressmen Adam Clayton Powell and Charles B. Rangel were born and raised in Harlem and represented the neighborhood in the House of Representatives for a combined 72 years; Whereas Harlem’s legacy has been instrumental in the legacies of Malcolm X, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Harry Belafonte, W.E.B. Du Bois, Colin Powell, Countee Cullen, Marcus Garvey, Langston Hughes, Josephine Baker, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Bessie Smith, and Jacob Lawrence