During the Renaissance, Harlem was booming and thriving in so many ways. It was the cultural epicenter for African Americans. It was the place where all poets, singers, activists, actors, intellectuals, and entertainers were and wanted to be. Places like the Apollo Theater and the Cotton Club became popular venues in the neighborhood where people would come from all over to watch performances. However, as the economy started to worsen because of the Great Depression of all these things changed. Many Hispanics and African Americans were flocking to Harlem because of its low rents. This resulted in overpopulation in very tight and small quarters. To add to that, these same people living in Harlem were having trouble finding jobs in their own community, where employers were only hiring white workers. At the same time, police were seen as enemies who seemed only to protect the whites. This riot did not happen because of a false rumor Lino Rivera stealing a 10-cent pocketknife. The residents of Harlem were tired of being oppressed, unemployed, discriminated against, and living in slum conditions. With all these factors going on, the riot of 1935 was bound to happen. The incident that occurred at the Krauss Store was just a fuse that set off a ticking time bomb. This paper will discuss the underlying causes behind the Harlem Race Riot of