The Roaring 20’s 1920’s - Culture

Harlem Renaissance Harlem – world’s largest black urban community In 1920’s became the focal point of intellectual, cultural, and artistic Black community. Focused on what it meant to be Black in America and express a new pride in African American experience. Jazz and Blues became popular music genres.

Writers: Langston Hughes Claude McKay Musicians: Louis Armstrong Duke Ellington Bessie Smith Josephine Baker

I, Too http://www. poetryarchive. org/poetryarchive/singlePoem. do I too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then. Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed~~ I too, am America. Langston Hughes

Tin Pan Alley The collection of New York City music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the U.S. First time music was available for home entertainment. Famous musicians included Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter Music was also used in vaudeville shows http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=iKDORuUk1y0

Lost Generation Group of writers in the 1920’s who shared the belief that they were lost in a greedy, materialist world that lacked moral values, and who often chose to flee to Europe (Paris) because they found it more intellectually stimulating. People who were disconnected from the countries values Famous authors include, Ernest Hemingway, T.S. Eliot, and F. Scott Fitzgerald https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suEbG3vMm2U

PROHIBITION – Speakeasies & Bootlegging A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is a club that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. These clubs became popular in the United States during Prohibition During Prohibition, the sale, manufacture, and bootlegging (transportation) of alcoholic beverages was illegal throughout the United States. The Stork Club, a famous speakeasy in New York City

CRIME INCREASES during Prohibition Inevitably most of the liquor traffic fell into the hands of gangsters, whose names we still know today. Alphonse "Scarface Al" Capone of Chicago was only the most notorious. AL CAPONE MUGSHOT http://www.history.com/topics/al-capone/videos/the- many-moods-of-al-capone

Women’s Roles Women participated in organized campaigns for suffrage and prohibition Francis Willard and Susan B. Anthony Benefited from increase free time afforded to them by modern conveniences like electricity and appliances (vacuums, refrigerators, washing machines, and toasters). Took jobs vacated by men in WWI Doctors, Bankers, Lawyers, Prohibition Officers, Social Workers, Hairdressers

FLAPPERS Young unmarried women Smoked cigarettes, drank alcohol, wore make-up, and had shorter hair and hemlines Women felt more in control – hair and hemlines became shorter.

Jazz Music JAZZ extremely popular in speakeasies New Orleans home of JAZZ Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCDOr6au_H8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksmGt2U-xTE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM

Radio Radio --- the “wireless” By 1930, more than 12 million families owned a radio KDKA first commercial radio station---opened in Pittsburgh, 1920 Provided instant news, entertainment, and advertisements Amos and Andy - Amos and Andy was the most popular daily radio show of the 1920s and early 1930s. These were America’s beloved characters. http://www.anthonyrudel.com/audio/amos_andy1.wav The Oldest Surviving WNYC Broadcast  WNYC's first announcer, Tommy Cowan is on the scene June 13, 1927 when Mayor Jimmy Walker receives Col. Charles Lindbergh following Lindbergh's return from a record breaking solo flight from New York to Paris. http://www.wnyc.org/preservation/audio/

Literature- reflected pessimism of materialistic American culture F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby Illustrated materialism & lack of human concern Claude McKay – Harlem Shadows About the racism in our culture T. S. Eliot – poet Ernest Hemingway – poet

Georgia O’Keefe - Artist Contrary to many artist of the 1920s, O’Keefe painted natural objects, such as flowers, animal bones, and landscapes.

FILM 1927 --- first “talkie” - “The Jazz Singer” Starring Al Jolson Charlie Chaplin – most popular film star of 1920’s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjarLbD9r3 0 Walt Disney – Mickey Mouse debuted in 1928 Mickey’s first movie – Steam Boat Willie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBgghnQF6E4