Malcolm X’s Harlem
Witnessing the Autobiography
Easily one of the most iconic neighborhoods in the country, Harlem has remained a center of Black culture and politics from the early 20th century up until the present day. The neighborhood advanced myriad Black political movements from the Pan-Africanism of Marcus Garvey to the social gospel of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the Black militancy of Malcolm X.
This particular tour focuses on Malcolm's relationship to the neighborhood. His journey to Harlem began as a young teen who stayed at the YMCA, followed by his central role as the Minister of the Nation of Islam and, eventually, the founder of his own Sunni mosque. While Malcolm traveled all over the world, Harlem was always the home base of his political organizing.
Our walk will begin with an introduction to Harlem and its history, followed by a journey where we retrace Malcolm's steps through the neighborhood from his time as a teenager all the way up until his death. Malcolm will be our “tour guide” as we work our way through Harlem’s built environment.
Things to Know:
This tour is based on “The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley.” It is highly recommended (but not required) to read the book in advance. Bring your copy with you if you really want to enrich your experience!
There is an extended version of this tour that runs for three hours. Ask about it if interested!
Feel free to click some of the sites we’ll visit on the map!
Frequently Asked Questions
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The standard tour lasts for two hours and covers between half a mile to two miles (one mile is about 1.6 kilometers or roughly 20 New York City blocks). We walk at a leisurely pace. Some tours may involve taking public transit to shorten the walk. In such cases, one trip is $2.90 and the cost is not covered.
Of course, if you request a private or custom tour, it can be shortened, lengthened, or customized upon request.
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Our default is to run all tours, rain or shine. However, if you prefer rescheduling a tour based on a weather forecast, you must let us know at least 24 hours in advance, and we will be happy to rearrange.
Additionally, if dangerous weather is forecasted (for example, a flood warning or a hurricane), we will be required to reschedule and will reach out to you to let you know.
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You should wear comfortable shoes for walking, and dress appropriately for the weather, as most tours will be spent entirely outside.
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If it’s a public tour, it will begin on time, but every tour involves an introduction that can last at least 10 minutes at the starting location. If you are running later than that, feel free to text your guide to let them know.
If it’s a private tour (meaning, it’s just you and your group), we have more flexibility, but please send us a text letting us know that you're running late!
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Since most tours involve walking on sidewalks and streets, they are wheelchair accessible.
Those that are not will mention it in the tour description. For example, our standard “Little Syria” route does involve going up and down some steps and crossing a footbridge. Other tours may involve taking the subway, and not all stations are fully accessible. This info will be available to you before booking.
However, for private bookings, we can easily customize the tour to avoid inaccessible routes, so please inquire!
We do not provide wheelchairs.
Tour Teaser
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Individual rates: As of right now, NYN is a one-man operation, so in order to make our labor worthwhile, a private group booking is $50 per ticket.
Institutional rates: We welcome bookings with companies, organizations, schools, museums and other institutions. Please inquire about our institutional rates. We are happy to work something out!
Capacity: An ideal group is 10-15 people, but if you have more than that, we will happily accommodate.
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You are welcome to cancel a tour for any reason up to 24 hours in advance, for a full refund or a voucher to be used for a future tour.
If you cancel later than that, or are a no-show, we cannot offer a refund or a voucher. We apologize for this, but please bear in mind that an enormous amount of labor is spent preparing a single tour.
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We understand that some people have the ability to pay more than others. You are not required to tip, but since NYN is a one-man operation and a labor of love, we’d be grateful to receive any tips. It is entirely up to you how much you tip if you decide to do so!
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Public tours run uninterrupted without any breaks, as they can disrupt the flow of a tour. We often start at locations with bathrooms nearby, and we recommend using it before the tour starts. Food is not included on any tour, though you are of course welcome to bring a snack or a non-alcoholic drink on our walk.
Private tours can have breaks to buy a snack or use the restroom if time permits.
Smoking is not allowed on any tours.
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We would love if you could give us a review! Since we are a small business, a good review would go a very long way. Here are the links to write us a review on Google and TripAdvisor.
If you didn't enjoy a tour for any particular reason, please do write to us, as we are always looking to improve.
Starting Location
Address: The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (515 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10037)
Directions: Take the 2 or 3 trains to 135th Street
“Asad led a customized tour for my 12th grade class, who had just read Malcolm X’s Autobiography. I really liked how Asad connected everything we saw to specific passages in the book. He is very knowledgeable about his subject, and fielded my students’ questions very well. I appreciated how enthusiastic and flexible he was as we planned out the tour; he ran the entire event with professionalism. We also ran into another tour group, and Asad and the other guide clearly know and respect one another, which speaks well for both of them.”
