---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Right now in Harlem, for every bank and…"
description: "\"“Right now in Harlem, for every bank and chicken wing franchise joint, there is a small business owner who has spent a decade trying to figure out how ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/marcus-samuelsson-1990_business_right-now-in-harlem-for-every-bank-and-c_1237888.png"
---

#  Right now in Harlem, for every bank and chicken wing…

![“Right now in Harlem, for every bank and chicken wing franchise joint, there is a small business owner who has spent a decade trying to figure out how to cater to a neighborhood he has fallen in love with. For every man or woman who has succumbed to that spell, I want to tell them: Go for it, do…” quote by Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/marcus-samuelsson-1990_business_right-now-in-harlem-for-every-bank-and-c_1237888.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/marcus-samuelsson-1990_business_right-now-in-harlem-for-every-bank-and-c_1237888.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/marcus-samuelsson-1990_business_right-now-in-harlem-for-every-bank-and-c_1237888.png)

> ““Right now in Harlem, for every bank and chicken wing franchise joint, there is a small business owner who has spent a decade trying to figure out how to cater to a neighborhood he has fallen in love with. For every man or woman who has succumbed to that spell, I want to tell them: Go for it, do it. I want to pass the word like gospel. Let me tell you something: Right now in Harlem authorship is on the move. This is ours, we tell each other. We have made it, chopped it, cooked it, played it. This is our story. Gordon Parks, photographer, musicians, writer, film director paved a way for us. Bear witness, he told us. That was his gift to the neighborhood. Whatever goes down, whatever turns up - make food and music and dance and story out of it. Right now and since forever, the world keeps telling us there's only room for one: Serena and that's it. Toni and that's it. I wonder if they can hear Harlem across the divide. Come one, come all. That's how we wrestle with urban renewal, black removal. The church ladies know this, and so do the hustlers. Right now in Harlem, we don't shy away from the ugly; we don't bow our heads to what's beautiful. We just keep asking, how does all this new s\*\*t fit with the old? Right now in Harlem there's room; there's hope; there's inspiration; there's good food. I may not be able to explain the magic, but it is there. To be in Harlem and make it takes luck, but nobody told me different. One thing is certain, wherever you are, you should come to Harlem - right now.””

[Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Harlem’s vibrant community fuels artistic and entrepreneurial spirit, urging bold action despite challenges.

**In simple terms:** Harlem inspires bold creativity.

Key Takeaway

Act boldly in your community.

Themes

community creativity urban renewal resilience culture

Mood

hopeful energetic defiant

Type

cultural motivational

When to use this quote

- food ventures
- music projects
- storytelling events
- neighborhood revitalization

Key Concepts

grassroots entrepreneurship cultural heritage social activism

Questions to Reflect On

- What resources can sustain local creators?
- How can outsiders support without imposing?

A Different Perspective

Economic pressures and gentrification can limit opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Come Harlem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-harlem-3853548/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Every man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-man/) [Good food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-food/) [Gordon Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gordon-parks-217925/) [Harlem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harlem/) [Harlem Authorship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harlem-authorship-3853549/) [Harlem Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harlem-make-3853550/) [Hear Harlem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hear-harlem-3853551/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Music and dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-and-dance/) [Right now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-now/) [Small business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-business/) [Small Business Owner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-business-owner/)

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