Pop Culture & The Harlem Renaissance Advanced US History

The New Culture: Movies With the economy on track, Americans turned to a vast array of leisure activities. New technology in movie-making. Roaring Twenties witnessed a dramatic expansion of popular culture- along with political and intellectual disillusionment, i.e. were leaving ideals of the Progressive Era behind in favor of social interests. Movies Another famous star emerged in the 1920’s. In 1928, a young Walt Disney introduced Mickey Mouse to the world in “Steamboat Willie.”

The New Culture: Music Jazz music became popular in the 20’s. Originally derived as part of African American culture, jazz followed ragtime music and crossed over to white audiences. Musicians: Most jazz stars in the 20’s were black men like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington- some of the first to have white fans. The invention of the phonograph, pioneered by Edison in the 1870’s, was popularized in the first years of the 1900’s, birthed the record industry. Enabled fans to listen to their favorite artists whenever they wanted. Louis Armstrong- Duke Ellington- Bessie Smith- Radio: Commercial radio began broadcasting in 1922-enabled people to listen to concerts. Harding became the first president to do a radio broadcast. Also a lot of evangelical preachers spread ideas from the Gospel on the radio.

The New Culture: Sports Radio promoted an interest in professional and college sports- especially baseball, football, and boxing. Listeners could get a play by play of events that increased popularity of sports in the 20’s and made players national celebrities. Baseball Fever: Boxing Sensation- Jack Dempsey was heavyweight champion from 1919 until 1926 when he was defeated by Gene Tunney in the most famous fight of the decade. College Football- Swimming- Getrude Ederle (swam the English Channel in 14 hours)

The New Culture: Planes Charles Lindbergh: Passenger Planes:

What is the “Harlem Renaissance?” Harlem Renaissance- In large northern cities, particularly New York City’s neighborhood of Harlem, African Americans created environments that stimulated artistic development, racial pride, a sense of community, and political organization, which led to a massive creative outpouring of African American arts. This became known as the Harlem Renaissance. The New Negro: renaissance

Writers of the Harlem Renaissance Claude McKay- Langston Hughes- Zora Neale Hurston- wrote personal and spirited portrayals of rural African American culture with African American women as major characters.

Using Their Voice…… New Aspirations-The racial pride that sparked the artistic achievement of the Harlem Renaissance led many African Americans to want a voice in politics after WWI. WEB DuBois: Voting in the North-

Marcus Garvey Marcus Garvey- Black leader in Jamaica who glorified black culture and traditions. Called for “Negro Nationalism.” He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA): A New Plan- He wanted African Americans to create a settlement in Liberia in Africa. His ideas (“back to Africa”) greatly influenced the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. The FBI saw the UNIA as dangerous and could lead to black uprisings.