This article is about Malcolm X Boulevard in Manhattan. For Malcolm X Boulevard in Brooklyn, see
Utica Avenue. For Malcolm X Avenue in Washington, DC, see
Congress Heights. For the ballet by William Grant Still, see
Lenox Avenue (Still).
Lenox Avenue – also named Malcolm X Boulevard; both names are officially recognized – is the primary north–south route through
Harlem in the
upper portion of the
New York Cityborough of
Manhattan. This two-way street runs from Farmers' Gate at
Central Park North (
110th Street) to 147th Street. Its traffic is figuratively described as "Harlem's heartbeat" by
Langston Hughes in his poem Juke Box Love Song.[2] The
IRT Lenox Avenue Line runs under the entire length of the street, serving the
New York City Subway's 2 and 3 trains.
Originally a part of
Sixth Avenue, the segment north of Central Park was renamed in late 1887[4] for philanthropist
James Lenox. In 1987, it was co-named
Malcolm X Boulevard, in honor of the slain civil rights leader.[5][6]
The avenue was the heart of
Harlem during the
Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s. The street brought together
African Americans, Latinos, British West Indians, and
Spaniards who developed relationships over common interests such as
jazz and food.[7] In 1932, Harlem was so firmly established as the world capital of jazz and African-American culture in general that "black cinema" films like Harlem Is Heaven were playing on the nation's big screens. Jazz flourished and grew like it could have in no other time and place. "You might have had 15 great clubs on one block, all going at once," said the trombonist and bandleader Wycliffe Gordon. "Imagine going into a joint to check out Willie 'The Lion' Smith, and sitting next to you are Duke Ellington and James P. Johnson." Lenox Avenue is thought by some to be one of the most important streets in the world for
African American culture.[8]
The
Savoy Ballroom was located between 140th and 141st Streets on Lenox Avenue.[9] Other historical venues of Lenox Avenue are
Sylvia's Restaurant, located between 126th and 127th; and the
Lenox Lounge, located between 124th and 125th.
Lenox Avenue – 1937 composition and 1938 ballet by William Grant Still[10]
The corner of Lenox Avenue and 125th Street is mentioned in the song "When the Revolution Comes" by
The Last Poets on their
self-titled album (1970).[11]
The video for
Madonna's 1994 single "
Secret" was shot on Lenox Avenue.[12]
"Lenox Avenue: Midnight", a well-known poem by
Langston Hughes, is set on Lenox Avenue, as is his "
The Weary Blues". The avenue is mentioned in his "Juke Box Love Song" and "Consider Me".
The avenue is featured in the first verse of the original
Irving Berlin lyrics of "
Puttin' On the Ritz". The song refers to the then-popular fad of poor but flashily dressed black Harlemites parading up and down Lenox Avenue, "Spending ev'ry dime / For a wonderful time".
The last line of the "Strut Miss Lizzie" patter has "...get set for Lenox Avenue."
In the 1995 movie
Die Hard with a Vengeance, Simon Peter Gruber requires Lieutenant
John McClane to get to the crossing of Lenox Anenue and the 128th Street, where he is quickly meeting with buddy Zeus (played by
Samuel L. Jackson), although the scene was actually shot in Audubon Avenue, close to West 175th Street (
Washington Heights, Manhattan)