Think Harlem News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

To take a look at a community in transition. >> reporter: harlem, it's the birthplace of jazz and home of the cotton club. it's where malcolm x led his flock and also the backdrop for some movies and "american gainster." since the 20s harlem has been the culture of black america. >> i live here because the rent is great for the amount of space i get. >> i don't think harlem is ever going to be taken completely away from black folks. >> reporter: but acourting to "the new york times," the number of blacks living in har lem peaked as the majority in 1970. by 2008 only four in ten were black. >> ...

Multicultur multicultural, sure. >> reporter: he says while it's led to a changing face of harlem it isn't always understood. >> you've got to understand it isn't just white people. the gentry is made up of those who can afford. the people of african decent who are concerned about white gentry must also remember that black people never owned harlem. and if you want to control it, you've got to own it. >> reporter: but race aside, harlem business owners want to see residents spend their money at local shops in the community and not at the big box chain stores. >> as a business owner, i want win...