This article from the Village Voice gives a detailed look at Abyssinian Baptist Church's Reverend Calvin Butts and the big money dealings of their real estate arm known as the Abyssinian Development Corporation.

Village Voice - From the church pulpit, like the Powells before him, the always crisply attired Butts has talked his way into a role as one of Harlem's key political power brokers—a position that is not without its benefits. In 1998, Butts endorsed the Republican incumbent governor, George Pataki. The following year, Pataki appointed him president of SUNY–Old Westbury, where he continues to earn $200,000 a year. And while he was a harsh critic of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, once calling him a "racist," Butts not only endorsed the Republican Michael Bloomberg, but has said hardly a word against his policies. Bloomberg's City Hall has lavished $68.6 million in government money on the organization, according to the city comptroller's office. The mayor himself has made repeated charitable donations to ADC, and once sat down at a fundraiser and wrote out a $1 million check on the spot. After Senator Hilary Clinton secured $1.5 million in earmarks for ADC, Butts endorsed her for president.

On July 24th, the Harlem community gathered to honor and remember Sylvia Woods at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.  Sylvia's, Queen of Soul Food Restaurant has and continues to be a blessing in the Harlem community.  Sylvia and her family have successfully run one of the most successful and iconic restaurant in Harlem.  The food is delicious and it's a place where you always feel welcome.  Many times Sylvia would be right there to greet you or ask you how your meal was.  She was truly a beautiful person.  Her and her family also made sure to give back to the Harlem by starting a scholarship fund in their name for children in community.

In this video former President, Bill Clinton talks about his own memories of Syliva Woods and her restaurant.

It was a packed house for Gil Noble's public wake at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY on April 12, 2012. Everyone including family, friends, colleagues and fans turned out to celebrate Gil Noble, the longtime host and producer of his groundbreaking and famous weekly news show, Like It Is. Noble's show was truly Pan-African focusing on the black experience on a local, national and international level.

We at All Things Harlem salute Gil Noble and continue to be inspired and influenced by him.

If you can please support the preservation and digitization of the Gil Noble archives please donate to Gil Noble Archives, P.O. Box 43138, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043.

DATE: Thursday, April 12, 2012
TIME: A public wake will be held from 7:00 PM-10:00 PM (The funeral will be on Friday, but it is not open to the public.)

LOCATION:
Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 138th St., (between Adam Clayton Powell and Malcolm X Boulevards (6th and 7th Avenues))
Harlem, New York

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Take the 2 or 3 train to 135 Street Train Station in Manhattan.
DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that any donations directed towards the Gil Noble archives at the following address. (Proceeds will be used to preserve the archives so that Noble's mission of educating the community about its culture and history will continue.)

Gil Noble Archives, P.O. Box 43138, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043.

WATCH VIDEO FROM THE WAKE HERE

Michelle Alexander at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem - January 12, 2012

Michelle Alexander, Author of The New Jim Crow, speaks about the political strategy behind the War on Drugs and its connection to the mass incarceration of Black and Brown people in the United States.

If you think Bill Clinton was "the first Black President" then watch the video below and see how much damage his administration caused for the black community as a result of his get tough attitude on crime that appealed to white swing voters.

This Thursday, Jan 12, 2012 - Author Michelle Alexander, will be doing a book event for The New Jim Crow at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. It's the launch of the paperback version of The New Jim Crow.