If Harlem can be said to have a bellwether, a focused visionary, it was Lloyd Williams. As president and CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of Harlem Week, his leadership was indispensable. Williams died Tuesday, following a private and courageous battle with cancer. He was 80.
The 51st Harlem Week celebration is currently underway and will continue until Aug. 17, said Winston Majette, executive director of the Chamber. “Our theme this year is ‘Celebrate Our Magic,’ which is fitting because Lloyd always celebrated the magic of his beloved community,” he added.
Very little transpired in Harlem without Williams’ knowledge, and far too many instances without his imprimatur. When he called a meeting, the movers and shakers of Harlem showed up, along with several of the city’s major players — and if anyone arrived late they knew a chastisement from him would be part of the minutes.
His touch, his footprint was indelible on Harlem’s history, and he summoned a coterie of leaders to help him document the community’s illustrious history and culture. One of his most significant volumes to that end was “Forever Harlem,” and a second volume was in progress.
Williams is known for developing and co-founding Harlem Week, which he, along with friend Voza Rivers, former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton and numerous others, grew from a one-day event in 1974 to the major celebration of arts, culture and community joy that is currently running through Aug. 17.
Much of his time recently was devoted to rounding up the staff and volunteers to ensure that another edition of Harlem Week was consistent with its remarkable past. Only a few New Yorkers and Harlemites were aware that Williams, whose family has lived in Harlem since 1919, was the godson of Malcolm X, but he recounted that relationship numerous times to his confederates and they got to know it verbatim.
“Once a month, we had breakfast with him as he encouraged us, gave us history lessons, and shared his vision for the future,” Williams recalled. “Malcolm X also allowed us to listen to some of the discussions that he had at the restaurant with others. He then would quiz us as to what we had learned from our observations.”
We can say for certain that Williams not only absorbed those moments but put them into practice in various aspects of empowering Harlem. There is so much more to be said about this tireless leader and advocate for Harlem, and we will continue this encomium and prepare for the memorial tribute.