A Walk Through Harlem

Bessie and Hap's dentist office was at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 135th Street. This is very near to James Weldon Johnson's home. James Weldon Johnson grew up in Florida and became a lawyer. He moved to Harlem to practice law. While in Harlem, he became the executive director of the NAACP for 11 years. He became a famous author of many books as well as writing over 200 songs. James Weldon Johnson was a patient of Bessie's and gave her an autographed copy of one of his newly published books of poetry. Bessie and Sadie's apartment in 1926 was at 219 West 121st Street. This is near to the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Bessie and Sadie probably walked past this church  but most likely never went in because they were Episcopalian. In 1919, Bessie and Sadie were living at 2505 Seventh Avenue at the corner of 145th Street with their siblings. This apartment was about six blocks away from Striver's Row which, in 1919, became home to many wealthy African Americans. Madam C.J. Walker's Beauty Salon was located at 108 West 136th Street, about a block away from Bessie's dental office. The Delany sisters probably never bought any of Madam Walker's hair products for African American women because they liked their hair. They most likely heard of it often after Madam Walker died in 1919 and the salon became a safe place for artists and writers.