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On Lenox Avenue between 117 and 118 street lies the Brite Lite Barbershop. It's been in business for sixty-three years and is still running strong. I had apprehensions about entering there since I haven't been in a barbershop for years (my mom braids my hair) but when I got inside everything was so calm and orderly that I couldn't help feeling relaxed. Despite that, it still took me a few moments to get a conversation started with one of the barbers. After awhile, I loosened up. Earl Williams, 48, currently resides in the Bronx and he says he's been cutting hair for 10 years. "I grew up in the shop around a lot of older guys cutting hair." Mr Williams didn't want to be a barber all his life. Some of the other businesses he's been in are real estate, clubs, and cocktail lounges. When I asked him what changes has he seen in the business since he started, he replied, "A lot of young people, who start in the business don't know how to use razors. They only use clippers and that's (the razors) a big part of the business. It comes with the territory." 
He also mentioned some of the celebrities that have visited the shop for haircuts such as Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, and former Harlem US Congressman Adam Clayton Powell. I asked how did these celebrities find out about this barbershop he said there used to be bars and clubs all around here and back then the community was much closer. I asked him a few questions such as what did they talk about while they were there. "Things happening now they spoke about then and things going on in the community 20-25 years ago." I also asked if their patronage in the shop improved business, to which he replied, "Sort of." I changed the subject by asking what kind of haircuts were popular then and he talked about how every 20 or so years things that were in style before come back in style again like Jersey fades. 20 years ago, mostly Muslims wore them. Its currently in style now and everyone's getting them. A jersey fade is a haircut which the top is left on and the sides shaved down. 
Mr. Williams also mentioned that prices have gone up. Twenty years ago you could get a hair cut for $1.50 or $2.00 but now its about $9 or $10. Before I left I asked his opinion about what made this barbershop different from others to which he replied, "The atmosphere the people come here for. The work also. Here they get a nice job done." 
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