Roaring ’20s & The Great Depression

Popular Culture Hollywood movies Douglas Fairbanks Clara Bow

Harlem Renaissance Drew on European, African, and African American influences Poets: Langston Hughes Dinner Guest: Me I know I am The Negro Problem Being wined and dined, Answering the usual questions That come to white mind Which seeks demurely To probe in polite way The why and wherewithal Of darkness U.S.A. – Wondering how things got this way In current democratic night Murmuring gently Over fraises du bois “I’m so ashamed of being white”

Jazz Music Origins of Jazz & Blues in New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago Radio helped the spread of Jazz 1923 – 190,000 radios produced 1929 – approximately 5 million radios produced Lyrics expressed themes of working class people Women who sang the blues asserted their sexuality, their passion, sorrows, & strength

Changing Sexual Behavior The role of Eugenics Buck v. Bell, 1927 The automobile Flappers

Prohibition “Dry” and their political motives “Wets” included alienated intellectuals, Jazz age rebels Federal agents responsible for enforcing law, but it was impossible Speakeasies, “bathtub gin,” & moonshine Organized crime

Cult of Celebrity: Babe Ruth

Cult of Celebrity: Charles Lindbergh In 1927, Lindbergh flew non-stop from New York to Paris in 33 ½ hours Cult of Celebrity: Charles Lindbergh

Consumption Almost half of all households owned a car or radio Almost a third of households owned a washing machine or vacuum cleaner Critics of consumerism cautioned of the potential for economic disaster & conformity Sinclair Lewis, Babbitt (1922) F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, (1925)

Advertising Offered a means to eliminate personal and embarrassing flaws such as bad breath and dandruff

Advertising Using celebrity to sell a product

Advertising Suggestions at health benefits

Advertising Appealing to desires for beauty

Roaring ‘20s The reality is not everyone experienced the roaring ‘20s as carefree and full of excess Many didn’t have access to the glamorous life There was widespread poverty in rural areas and urban ghettos One African American noted, “The Negro was born in depression. It only became official when it hit the white man.”

Depression Foreign Economic crisis Surplus Capitol Stock Market Crash Credit Crunch Lack of Economic Diversity Poverty

Grapes of Wrath

Roaring ‘20s & The Great Depression Key terms: Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes, Buck v. Bell, Flappers, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dawes Plan, “Black Tuesday”, “Hoovervilles”, Dust Bowl