Jon Schuppe
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
HARLEM — Shawn Martinez stood at a Lenox Avenue storefront Wednesday, talking about the state of politics in his neighborhood.
He was disappointed not only in Gov. David Paterson’s flameout, but also in what it said about Harlem’s future as a center of black leadership.
“His going out like this showed that he was weak,” Martinez, 23, said. “And now who’s going to be the next one to step up?”
Many Harlem residents are asking that question, as the neighborhood loses its reputation as a place where black leaders are groomed for national greatness. Much of it has to do with long-term changes, as blacks have migrated to outer boroughs and elected a new generation of leaders. But that trend has been exacerbated in recent months by a series of blows to Harlem’s political class.
It started with the December death of Percy Sutton, a civil rights icon and former Manhattan borough president who was a member of Harlem’s vaunted Gang of Four. The group included Rep. Charles Rangel, former Mayor David Dinkins and Basil Paterson, the governor's father.
This week, the governor dropped his election campaign amid allegations he intervened in a domestic violence case involving a top aide. And on Wednesday, Rangel said he was stepping down from his chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee amid an ongoing ethics inquiry.
“What we see as [Harlem's] demise is a reflection of its success, because it’s no longer carrying the weight of the black community on its own,” said State Sen. Bill Perkins, who represents Harlem.
That community, he said, “has now become a diaspora, with other centers of power.”
Even his own district is no longer characterized as black. It now includes the Upper West Side, Morningside Heights and Washington Heights.
“The Harlem leader now represents a much more diverse community, and that’s a result of its evolution,” Perkins said.
Perkins is one of several rumored candidates for Rangel's seat, should he drop his reelection bid. Also on that list are Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV and Assemblyman Keith Wright; Harlem community banker Vincent Morgan has already declared his candidacy for the seat.
In the shadows of Lenox Terrace — the sprawling apartment complex where Rangel and Paterson live — residents had a hard time coming up with names of people who could follow in their predecessors’ footsteps.
“I don’t know of any other leaders who have the following to step up. I don’t know who even claims to be up and coming,” said John Wardlaw, a 77-year-old retiree who has lived 30 years in Lenox Terrace.
“It took Rangel 40 years to get where he is now. It’s going to be a while before someone gets to his level.”
Margaret Johnson, who has lived in Lenox Terrace for 47 years, grew up with Rangel and knows the Paterson family well. Despite her loyalty to them, she thinks it’s time to make way for younger leaders.
In the basket of her electric scooter was a tattered roll of Paterson campaign stickers. She fingered the roll wistfully.
“Yeah, we could use another generation,” she said. “We have the blood here. We just need for the youth to get educated and take over.”
