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115th Street Reflection

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I was very excited to visit Our Lady of Mount Caramel in Harlem, as I had read the majority of “ The Madonna of 115th Street” written by Robert Orsi, as groundwork for my presentation. I looked forward to applying what I had learned so much about in the book, to what Harlem appeared to be in today’s time. The book created great imagery that made it obvious to compare the past and present Harlem during the time that as it we visited. After walking outside the subway station in Harlem, it was like a mini culture shock from the rest of New York. With the initial arrival you could see the change in peoples economical status and struggle throughout the structure and streets of Harlem. It conveyed the impression of being less developed and poorer …show more content…

Observing the streets of Harlem made me feel a deeper connection to the value of religion in the people of Harlem’s lives in the past and present. Orsi also stated that the streets were a symbol for people to reveal themselves to each other. This was very believable as the streets revealed hard work, and efforts of the immigrants, which was still how it appeared in many ways today with less wealthier people populating the community. Although the church did not seem as prominent in Harlem today as we seen with the low attendance in mass, I could imagine how such a big beautiful church could hold so such meaning and power in the past for those living in Harlem who would devote their suffering of being an immigrant. Orsi pointed out two meanings of religion in his text, integration and popular religion. I could conceptualize these two meanings coming together in the busy days of preparing for and the Festa itself, as it was the integration of the peoples desires and faith coming together and Creating such powerful religion and divine

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