Harlem has been represented in Congress by African American lawmakers for the better part of a century. Starting in 2017, a Dominican-American, Adriano Espaillat, will take over the seat. NY1's Washington Bureau Reporter talked to both lawmakers about the future of the thirteenth district that is now facing a racial divide. Here is the final part of NY1's Alberto Pimienta's series: “The Lion Retires.”

The district Congressman Charles Rangel represents today is not what it used to be.

In the 70s, when he won the seat, it mainly included Harlem. 64 percent of the neighborhood’s residents were African American.

Today, only 24 percent are black, 54 percent are Hispanic.

 "My district was extended to the Bronx and of course it was cut in a way that politically it lended itself to a more Spanish speaking people," says Rangel.

The boarded-up, abandoned buildings gave way to new housing and national chains.

As the demographics were shifting, many saw it as an opening to dethrone the Lion of Lenox Avenue.

State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, originally from the Dominican Republic, tried several times.

"Being pulled out of the Ways and Means Committee, not being in the majority makes him pretty much like a freshman Congressman," says Espaillat.

"Just what the heck has he done besides saying he’s a Dominican?" says Rangel.

The 2012 and 2014 elections took on racial undertones.

Espaillat was not able to defeat the congressman. But in 2016, with Rangel retiring, Espaillat finally won the seat.

"If it is abundantly clear that the community" says Rangel, "is going to be polarized by one group fighting the other that would be a disaster."

Espaillat, the first Dominican elected to Congress, dismisses accusations of a divided district.

"I feel a kinship with these neighborhoods. They are important to me," says Espaillat. "So being of African descent I don’t see any difference in why someone should be concerned that I came from the Dominican Republic."

Espaillat says he will fight for all of his constituents in Capitol Hill.

Rangel, now one of those constituents himself, will watch closely.