Racial Issues in the 1920’s13.3

800,000 African Americans migrated north to join the many who did during WWI

More factory jobs in Northern cities

Large black communities develop in: -Chicago – New York City ––Detroit – Other Northern cities

The Great Migration

Wanted better economic opportunities and less discrimination

Situation better but not perfectBlacks first to lose jobs during

early 1920s recessionViolence – race riots – racial

tension still existed even in North

Harlem Renaissance A cultural movement that

embraced expression and equality for African-Americans

Centered in Harlem, NY-fashion, entertainment, nightlife– Mecca of “The New Negro”

Also influential to Blacks in Paris, Africa, and the Caribbean

Harlem Renaissance “The New Negro Movement”

– Betterment of self, escape segregation and economic depravation

Emphasized racial pride, equality– Challenged racism, stereotypes– Promoted progressivism, socialism,

and integration– A freedom of expression

Themes and characteristics Sociological development,

intellectualism Folk traditions Modern Black life Show humanity Modernism vs. Jazz

Music

Jazz and Blues: emotional, social, innovation

Duke Ellington-The Cotton Club

Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday

Art Visual, photography,

painting, drawing, acting

• Reality brought to life

• Past experiences• Ambitions, dreams,

goals

Literary Poets, playwrights, novelists, essayists.

– Inspire, influence,Express, progress

• New styles• Imitations of

classic style• Publication

Intellectual W.E.B. Dubois

– Sociologist, writer– NAACP founder; The Crisis

Marcus Garvey– Pan-Africanism-Unite all Africans– Black Nationalism-independent

nation for all Blacks in Africa– UNIA (Universal Negro Improvement

Association) “Back to Africa”

Why The Arts and Literature? Saw them as an agent of

change Means of expression and self-

determination Way to inspire and connect Open doors for new

opportunities

Impact New identity for Blacks-from rural/

undereducated to urban/sophisticated

Players on the world stage Self-determination Set the stage for Civil Rights

Movement Inspiration for people worldwide Movement towards integration

The Return of theKu Klux Klan

Reestablishment of the Klan

1st Klan – 1865 - 1870Reestablished in 1915 William Joseph Simmons –

–Preacher –Brought the Klan back at Stone Mountain, GA

Why did the Klan come back?Racism, industrialization, migration, immigration

Targeted African Americans, Catholics, Jews, and radicals like Communists

Staged mass rallies, kidnappings, beatings, and lynching's

LynchingA form of

violence, usually execution, outside the law to terrorize and intimidate a group of people

The Fall of the KlanRapid Rise – Early 1920sAssisted by film Birth of a Nation– 6 million members in 1924

Rapid Decline – Late 1920s–30,000 members in 1930–Today – 6,000 members

Fall of the KlanDecline Due To:-Negative publicity-D.C. Stevenson Rape Case-Publicity of Klan violence-Some law enforcement crackdowns

-Internal Klan corruption