Harlem historian and filmmaker



12/13/48 - 2/21/12

SAM WALTON –Filmmaker & Harlem Historian

(& regular customer at Sylvia’s Restaurant for Sunday breakfast)

Sam Walton was born on December 13, 1948, and raised in Harlem on 137^thand 8^th Ave. Growing up, Sam had reveled in stories of Harlem’s once glittering and sophisticated existence, even though the community he knew was a community crumbling apart. By the time he entered his teenage years, drugs had permeated and swallowed the people of Harlem. Sam Walton believed by investing in his community that others would remember and pass on a greater knowledge to those who have and will come after him.

Sam and his mother, Smyrna, along with his two brothers, Joe and Nick, lived in a very small third floor apartment. This was in the 60’s before the projects started to get shabby – a time when everything was well kept. As drugs seeped into Harlem, kids started tearing up places and hallways started reeking of disorder and stale urine. Family was always an important part of Sam’s life – Aunt Pauline who lived on the floor above and Aunt Mazaree and her husband who used to babysit for Sam and his siblings.

Sam’s first job working in Ernie’s Barbershop was an important milestone. He saved and saved until he had $8 to buy his first bicycle. That bike meant a lot to Sam – it was his first self-earned possession, his first means to tour the sights beyond that little corner of Harlem. No longer did he feel he would be standing on the corner watching the world go by. As Sam started to venture out, wandering the streets as an adolescent, he intently watched the street sharks becoming community heroes and icons, bookies overtaking the streets, and the ease with which people were sucked into the corrupt lifestyle. Law enforcement was losing its edge, and confrontation was becoming the coin of social exchange. People were beginning to pay attention to national politics, and Sam began to notice a new breed of street preachers now sporting ties and black suits and spewing an angry attitude.

In 1965, Sam signed up for the Job Corp,, where he was sent to Camp Kilmer in New Jersey for the training program. This is where Sam learned to take care of himself and wanted to dedicate himself to improve his roots – Harlem.

Sam Walton, and his friend, Sam Gaynor, had been living in a basement apartment. They were kind to neighborhood kids and even threw a huge birthday party for a neighborhood child who had never had a party before. The intangible reward Sam had felt for this generosity urged him forward in his mission to help his community. A few community groups had provided bus transportation to Bear Mountain and local trips to the parks in the city. Soon Sam and Sam were getting lots of attention from more established groups that were recipients of federal provisions. Emma Bowen, a leader in Washington Heights, put in a good word for them with Mamie and Ken Clark, organizers of the Northside Center who actually put in funds out of their own pockets for community services. A meeting ensued shortly after and they were on their way!

We Care Media Arts was founded in the late 1960’s to enable young people in Harlem to empower themselves through community service. Early accomplishments include a job preparation program and a community newspaper produced by local youths called City Scene. We Care Media Arts fosters a sense of pride by filming oral histories of long time Harlem residents and community leaders – emphasizing the cultural legacy and wisdom embodied by Harlem’s older citizens and spark inter-generational dialogue and positive community activism. HarlemTalking is a production of We Care Media Arts and introduces some of the men and women, from ordinary to famous personalities, who have lived and worked in Harlem. Some of the elite interviews include Charles Rangel, Percy Sutton, Basil Patterson, David Dinkins, and Ella Baker. The Youth Media/Leadership Program trains young people in communication skills, documentary filmmaking techniques, and introduces them to Harlem history.

Sam Walton put his mark on the community of Harlem by educating the youth and instilling in them a sense of pride and understanding of oral history, not to mention the skills learned while recording historical documentaries. His legacy will remain in the hearts of those he touched and taught – a priceless gift to Harlem.

www.harlemtalking.org