The Lords of Harlem

They are the wisest people in the world.  Five men of color, all in their sixties, sit on the sidewalk from nine to five in wooden chairs outside of their apartment building in Harlem.  Dressed in tuxedos, they sit in a line, straight and erect, while holding walking canes with almost military precision.

People come to them for answers.  "Should my child wear braces?  Should I marry my fiancé?  What's the weather going to be like on the Fourth of July?"

World leaders sometimes stop by to ask the really big questions.  "Is a trade agreement in the best interest of my country?  How can we stop famine and disease?  Will the dollar be devalued in the global economic market?"

They articulate their answers quietly and with confidence.  They accept no money for their services since they claim to be vessels for that which needs to be expressed.  They live with humility, disdaining interviews and medical exams attempting to pinpoint the source of their knowledge.

They are servants of a higher power.  They are the Lords of Harlem.

~William Hammett

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