Harlem Rent Strikes Against Landlord Exploitation

Throughout the 1920s, Harlem tenants organized rent strikes against gouging landlords who charged Black renters 40–60% more than white renters for comparable units. Tenant organizations coordinated withholding of rent across multiple buildings. The rent party — a cultural institution where tenants threw paid parties to meet exorbitant rents — also became a form of community mutual aid. Organizations like the UNIA and local civic groups documented and publicized exploitation. These early rent strike efforts laid organizational groundwork for later tenant movements in the 1930s.