This is the last lecture on the "Roaring Twenties". The explored topics are : the Harlem Renaissance, the Jazz age, and the economic prosperity of the 20s.

1. The Roaring 20s

2. In 1920s, about 200,000 African Americans lived in the
city.
Most lived in Harlem, the unofficial capital of African
American culture and activism.
Strong sense of racial pride and identity in this new place
Attracted a historic influx of talented African Americans
resulting in the Harlem Renaissance.

3. Harlem: the place to be for
artists, writers poets and
performers
Racial pride fueled by idea of
new negro
Confidence and freedom of
expression
Whites attracted to
speakeasies in Harlem not
only by Alcohol but also …
JAZZ!

4. Jazz was inspired at the
beginning by minstrel
shows
“a black imitation of a
white caricature of black
music “
1895—New Orleans, Louisiana:
Trombonist William Cornish

5. Minstrel Show perpetuated
negro stereotypes
But, helped Blacks enter the
field of show.
Generations of black
entertainers imitated in turn
the white stereotypes of
African-American behavior till
the 20s.
1820s
1927

6. Cotton Club gigs featured
jungle decor & costumes to
accompany the "jungle
sound," intended to imply
the "exotic" music of Africa.
Only in the 1940’s did Duke
Ellington seek to present
black music as high art

7. f Africa.
1927

8. Jazz a reputation as immoral
Threatening old cultural values and promoting
decadent values
A Professor of Princeton University wrote: “it is not
music at all. It's merely an irritation of the nerves of
hearing."
Media denigrated jazz: The NYT told a story
claiming jazz caused the fatal heart attack of a
celebrated conductor

9. Louis Armstrong (1901
– 1974)
Duke Ellington

10. Harlem was a vital center for
jazz
1929 – 60% of radio air time
was playing jazz.
500 jazz clubs including the
Cotton Club

11. What made the Harlem Renaissance
possible?
How did economic prosperity contribute to
the cultural boom?
Clue: Times is gettin' harder,
Money’s gettin' scarce.
Soon as I gather my cotton and corn,
I’m bound to leave this place.

12. For first time the
census reflected
an urban society.
People had
moved into cities
to enjoy a higher
standard of
living

13. Agricultural depression in early
1920's contributed to urban migration
U.S. farmers lost markets in postwar
Europe
Agricultural efficiency increased so
more food produced (more food =
lower prices) and fewer labourers
needed
farming was no longer as
prosperous, and bankers called in
their loans (farms repossessed)

14. After a brief depression, 1920-1921
US came out of WWI as the world’s largest
creditor nation.
Between 1922 and 1928 industrial productivity
rose by70%
Wages at an all-time high
Electric power in households increased 19-fold
between 1912 and 1929. ( from 20% to 70%)

15. Decade of economic prosperity, growing popular culture
& widespread consumerism.
•Women increasingly entered the work force.
•White collar jobs rose
•The workweek shortened to forty hours allowing for more
leisure time
•Boom of movie industry & Advent of the radio
Huge increase of consumer products created a need for
advertising and sales people.

17. Manufacturers mastered production and needed now mass
markets for their goods
Used persuasion, allure, and sexual suggestion
Sports Became a big business

19. Buying Goods on Credit & Installment Plans
 Advertising and increase in consumerism led to the rise of credit
 Instead of paying in cash could put anything on credit or installment

20. The decade of an easy life and
enjoyment was heading for a
paradox.
 Credit and installment plans
encouraged people to spend
money they didn’t have
 Fueled growth of the
consumer economy.
 Most Americans began to
only worry about the present
without any concern for the
future