For a place that seems like its own world amongst the metropolis that is NYC, Harlem consistently draws folks in to the many wonders that it possesses. One thing I’d like to share about this wonderland with you all is Harlem Fashion Week 2012’s “A Great Day in Harlem”. Now I’m usually one to relax on my Sundays but when I heard that this event was going down, I decided to do something I don’t normally do. I would try to stimulate all of my artistic pleasure centers at once by attending and boy was it worth it.
To start things off with the International Cultural Showcase made my heart skip a beat because I LOVE dance. The companies that performed were Company and Uptown Dance Academy, The Dance Theater of Harlem, and Millennium Dance.
Uptown Dance Academy
Things were then topped off with a performance by the Harlem Arts Organization Impact Repertory Theatre which was too beautiful. The next part of the day involved a medley or gospel tunes belted out by the New York Gospel Caravan complete with the likes of Melody Daniels to the South African Harlem Voices. 
South African Harlem Voices
The many voices resounded in tribute to the late Sylvia Woods, the Queen of Soul Food.
Hezekiah Walker
Freddie Jackson
Cuba Gooding Senior
Alicia Meyers
Next up was the Fashion Fusion Showcase and boy was it a show indeed. Everybody was out to strut their stuff due to the latest and the greatest that New York has to offer in head to toe fashion. The many names to headline the segment included Deborah Williams; Fabric Twins; Yvetta Petty; Duane Fish; Sofistafunk; Roger Gary; and Roger Rodney, Edwina Greg, Clarence Black, Gadol Wilson, and Douglas Says.
Designer Douglass Say
The audience was then wowed afterwords with a guest preview of the new uniforms for the National Park Service Forest Rangers.
National Park Services
I was excited for more to say the least seeing as by now I’d been on a euphoric high from all the art and culture that surrounded me.
The day started to wind down and came to a close with a salute to Hal Jackson that really lifted my spirits because I grew up listening to him with my parents on weekend hauls to run household errands. Being stuck in the car and not being a child of today’s technology era, music was my only escape and Hal Jackson took was always there to take me to my happy place. The Daily News and Harlem Week paying him tribute was a great way to end a fantastic day in an even more fantastic way.
Hal Jackson Honors
To see what Harlem truly had to offer that day only reaffirmed that no matter how gritty the streets of 125th St. are, or how posh certain parts of Harlem seem to be, it all doesn’t matter. The collective group of people that come together to join forces and share new experiences with one another is what matters most as well as the most satisfying and rewarding feeling that you could ever walk away with after a visit to Harlem. The best part about that day was that it doesn’t stop there. You, yes YOU, still have a chance to join in on the festivities throughout the rest of August. Visit http://www.Harlemweek.com or call (212) 862-8477 for all the details and I promise that you won’t regret it!
Fashion Politics 411 