Harlem Renaissance and The Jazz Age

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TIME The Roaring Twenties: The 1920s

Staff: Editors: Molly Klutts and Kyle Spence Advertising: Samantha Reis and Jack Greb Graphic Designer: Nick Johnson Layout Director: Cade Zschiesche


Table of Contents Harlem, New York City 1920

Letter from the Editors……………………………………...page 3 Letters to the Editor………………………………….……..page 5-7 Briefing…………………………………………………...….page 8 Politics Article…………………………………………...…..page 10 World Article…………………………………………..…….page 11 Society Article……………………………………...…....…..page 13 Economy Article………………………………………...…..page 14 Feature Article: Harlem Renaissance….………………....page 15-16 Entertainment………………………………………………..page 18 Sports………………………………………………...….…...page 19 Interview with Babe Ruth………...…………………….…...page 20


Letter from the Editors The purpose of the feature article is to inform our country about some of the intriguing changes that are being made in this decade and to show how the roles of African-Americans have changed recently. The African-Americans have gotten involved in the arts and writing, like many figures such as Langston Hughes and Louis Armstrong have risen into stardom in their fields. They are inspiring many other African-Americans to move to the Harlem area in New York City and do the same.

This could be the beginning of a new age for the United States, and the age where African-Americans who once had no more value than the work they did in the fields as slaves are regarded as an equal in this country. They are a group of people who have just as much right to express their opinion on how this country is run as any other ethnic group. A group of people who can express their feelings through the arts, participate in sports, and do all the everyday things that other people, especially whites, enjoy. Through people like Hughes and Armstrong, people are beginning to see this new age and how they can achieve it. They will continue to become bolder in their effort to achieve it. But as so many great men have already showed us, African-Americans can add more to our society than most have ever thought possible. Sincerely. Kyle Spence and Molly Klutts

Theater in New York 1920 1



Letters to the Editor Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

I agreed with your article. Although the population may not think that what Flappers are portraying is okay, I think you should be able to be yourself and express who your are. Flappers are known for their short, colored hair, short dresses and skirts, and smoking or drinking in public. Flappers are now the symbol of modern women. The modern women are setting a good example for whom the youth should become. They symbolize the new lifestyles after the war. The new lifestyle of the youth after this war is a good thing. Children and teens are learning how to express themselves and become their own person. Many adults find the new youth as reckless and immoral, or even fluky. Girls tend to go out on dates without alarm clocks, which frighten the adults. The new separate youth culture has turned into a new way of living for many people that should never be broken.

I agreed with your article. Although you said something about how the adults of this age were quickly adapting to how the younger generations were acting at the time. I read many books over the topic and I found that many parents and elders were very frustrated with the change of culture in their youths. They punished their youths when doing these new things as you said in your article. It took about twenty years for the majority of people to adapt to the cultural environment. Sincerely, Cade Zschiesche

Sincerely, Molly Klutts

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Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I agree with your article. Prohibition is a good thing for us Americans. Some people strongly support prohibition. Groups like church communities, business leaders, feminists, and political reformers wanted to ban alcohol and were happy it was prohibited. Women are also for prohibition, because too many men are spending their money on alcohol instead of their families, leaving nothing for their wives and children. These people who are for prohibition think alcoholism has an effect on family life such as dropping the pilot. Alcohol also creates crime, violence, morality, traditional values, health problems, and depression. Even though alcohol is illegalized, some people find ways around prohibition. People are finding doctors who would prescribe alcohol for “medical conditions.” Some make their own alcohol in their bathtub. This is called the “bathtub gin.” It is very dangerous for people to do because most of them don't know what they are doing so it often tasted awful and is dangerous. There are also tons of illegal drinking spots. They’re called speakeasies, where a lot of cellar smellers show up. A speakeasy is a nightclub or store that sells alcohol illegally. They are mostly in New York and are ran by criminals and gang members who make it themselves. There are also embalmers. These are people who buy alcohol distilled or illegally smuggled into the United States and transport it. The bad part of prohibition is that people are dying. The Government is poisoning alcohol so people won’t drink it. Also, when people make it themselves in their bathtubs it is harmful to their bodies and they can die. Sincerely, Samantha Reis

Dear Editor, I agreed with your article about why we should all continue to live a better rural based life rather than living in the city. I do strongly believe that the cause of all our issues we face now are caused by change. There are many immigrants coming into America that need somewhere to start, why not let them join in with rural life where they can live there own life and control what they do rather than being pushed around by a boss. In the city there are more jobs, but are these jobs better than hard work which builds work ethic and better discipline habits. Living in a place where you can go and hang out with your friends and have fun may seem great, but those things are what lead to laziness and bad behavior. Not only is rural life better in what you do, but the conditions are also better. Living in the city is populated, constantly noisy, constantly busy, and pollution is everywhere.Tradition is something we should strive for in America and that is why is say we should not get sucked into the temptations that city life bring to Americans. Sincerely, Nick Johnson


Letters to the Editor Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

I regret to inform you that I strongly disagreed with your article regarding the Religion vs. Science debate. I understand that the U.S. government has began to turn away from God, as only two states, Florida and Oklahoma, outlawed the teaching of evolution. These blessed states have stayed loyal to the Bible, and have realized that teaching anything other than Genesis is wrong. The Bible is the basis of our government, as we are “one nation, under God, indivisible...” However, this teacher you write about from the Scopes trial has the idea that he should like to split and divide us into two groups. There is one group you have helped to create that is weak, and follows anything that “science proves.” However, there is another group, with strong, faithful people like myself that will not stand for this “factual information.” By denying that God created us, you are denying the very basis of the United States government. I hope my opinions will allow you to think about this matter, and to base your future articles on less controversial topics, or take a neutral position. Thank you for considering this.

I agree with your article. I think that people shouldn’t not just have faith in something and that for you to agree with it that you should have to prove that it is true. Science is the basis of the world for you to prove something is true you have to use science faith is not enough for something to be true you need to test and retest things. Religion is giving people false hope, we either need to do research and prove a certain religion is true or we shouldn’t believe it or practice it.

Sincerely, Kyle Spence

Sincerely, Jack Greb

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Briefing By: Molly Klutts

48 states are currently in the United States A significant struggle for human rights, battles between religion, social freedom, and race. Census in the United States was 106,021,537 in 1920

The average hourly wage is 20 cents

A dozen eggs costs 68 cents

Tennessee school teacher John T. Scopes' trial for teaching Darwin's "Theory of Evolution" begins July 1925.

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Politics: A Decade of Disappointment By: Nick Johnson We have had all these years of trying to find someone who knows enough about how to run a changing nation and find ways to deal with these changes and yet still struggle. Warren G. Harding (left) the first of these presidents, lacked the skills to be an effective president, he was found dead on August 2, 1923. The next of these presidents is Calvin Coolidge (right), they call him “Silent Cal” because of how he speaks so infrequently.

What many think is the most upsetting of all is the new ideas being spread throughout the nation. There are ideas of business, society, government, etc. The socialists are one of these groups, they want control over businesses and the whole economy.

Anarchists are another group of people who see a new future for america. they see us living without a government at all. Don’t they see what would happen for the future? How disappointing this decade has become both physically, mentally, and spiritually.

The last of these new ideas is communism, they beleive in the government seperating evertthing equally among the people, that might help the poor but it would be pointless in going to school or working if its all even.

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World: Foreign Policy By: Jack Greb Restrictions on immigration are becoming more harsh. The league of nations has also been created. America has become isolated from the league of nations, which is contributing to it being outcasted from the world during this period of time.

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Occurring Social Tensions within Society By: Molly replaced. Klutts Some of the social tensions in today’s They also think the youth is day have been pretty far reaching issues. Firstly, the Ku Klux Klan, also known as KKK, is an organization that was organized a couple years after the Civil War. To be a part of Ku Klux Klan, you have to be Nativeborn, a white christian, and an American male. KKK is directed against many people, including African Americans, Catholics, Jews, and any foreigners. Basically, if you were not them, they didn’t accept you. The “Kleagle” is the Local Klan Leader, who is someone you should watch out for. If I say so myself, Ku Klux Klan is pretty blaah.

Immigration in the United States has been a consequential problem over these past years. Over thirty thousand West Indians have settled in Harlem, New York City. Today, a quota system has been established to reduce the amount of immigration from non-protestant countries. These laws were designed to limit people immigrating from Asia, Southern Europe, and Russia. Also, the Congress is passing the National Origins Act which drastically limits immigration from other countries to the United States.

reckless and immoral, and even fluky. The youth has created new ways of speaking, dressing and behaving that hasn’t settled too well with the adults. The men and women have become billboards. Most adults have tried everything to get the old youth culture back. They’ve tried censorship and legislation, and when that doesn’t work, all they can do is hope for the best. The National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), was founded by a group of white and black people. This is due to the riots in Springfield, Illinois. This group mainly focuses on litigation and legal challenges to discrimination. An important importance for political and philosophical thought is the NAACP magazine called “The Crisis”. This magazine is edited by W.E.B. DuBois. This promotes the work of black writers and artists during the today's time. Women’s rights has always been an important issue. In 1920, the women gained the right to vote, they were guaranteed equal and shared rights through amendments. For example, the 19th amendment granted suffrage to women in all states.

Right now, there are many tensions between the youth and adults. After World War I, the youth has created a new, separate culture that the adults don’t approve of. Many adults believe that the youth is currently broken and the needs to be

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New and Improved: How America’s Economy has Changed By: Kyle Spence Four big things have changed in the American economy, and they have benefited large companies greatly. The first big change is that, since World War I, women have become much larger consumers in terms of products bought and jobs filled. When men went to war, women took the jobs that some of them once filled, and when the men returned home, they refused to give up their new lifestyle. By the beginning of this decade, women were making 80% of purchases, and 80% of new ads coming out now are targeted at women. The second large change to our economy is the beginning of mass production. Mass production is having people do the same job over and over again in an assembly line to make more products. Large products that were once time consuming to make are made quickly in large numbers. This is helping strengthen the economy by selling more products and gaining more money for companies.

The third change that has been made in the way businesses run is consumer credit. People have used this because it allows you to pay a little money on the spot and take the item immediately. New cars are now almost exclusively being bought on consumer credit, with 65% being purchased on the spot. One final change to the economy that has benefited society is the new growth of advertising businesses and agencies. People all over the country are now seeing the same ads thanks to this growth, and ads are now more direct and judgemental. The new message in advertising is that there are some items that you simply cannot live without, and every American ought to have one. In these ways, our economy has changed dramatically and will continue to grow and prosper using the new advertising and trading methods.

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Feature Article: The Harlem Renaissance and The Jazz Age If you want to find a great African American artist, come to Harlem, New York City. Where no one is a flat tire and everyone can express themselves! The African American’s journey started with their migration. The great migration is a movement of six million African Americans out of the rural Southern United States and into the West such as Harlem, New York City. Harlem was made for white workers and people who wanted to live outside the city. After a while the neighborhood started to grow fast and whites started to move out. African Americans are starting to move to Harlem, making it the largest concentration of black people in the world. Now that blacks are moving into Harlem, they are bringing their own businesses and institutions with them. Harlem is becoming known for a place where some of the newest and best African American artists, entrepreneurs, writers, and composers come together. There are leaders like Du Bois and Marcus Garvey. These two men encourage African Americans to come together as communities and to be proud of their race and heritage.

Bringing new life to Harlem

An important part of today’s Harlem Renaissance is artists and authors. One of the most talented authors right now is Langston Hughes. Hughes was born on February 1st, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. His career started as a busboy in Washington, D.C. While working, he introduced himself to Vachel Lindsay who is a famous writer. Lindsay was impressed by his poems and made some arrangements with the people he knew. Lindsay promoted Hughes’ poetry and brought it to a wider audience. Hughes is currently writing an autobiography called The Big Sea. Women have been an essential part of The Harlem Renaissance. In 1770, a Boston slave named Phillis Wheatley published An Elegiac Poem on the death of that celebrated Divine and Eminent servant of Jesus Christ, the Reverend and learned George Whitefield.

Langston Hughes The black artists of america don’t get very much respect for their work. They think that they should focus on their economic status and not waste their time with performing arts. In Europe, they have recently asked African Americans to show their work and come to Europe. 13


Feature Article: The Harlem Renaissance and The Jazz Age There were many musicians that helped to shape the jazz age of the 1920s. One very popular musician of this time is Louis Armstrong, who is known widely for his skill on the trumpet and cornet, both with set music and improvisation. Crowds came so see him perform as well as hearing his low, gravelly singing voice. Most of all, though, people loved his charisma on the stage. Another was “Jelly Roll Morton”, a famous piano player and a bandleader. He was also known for his controversial statement that he “created jazz”

James Weldon Johnson was many things, including an American author, educator, lawyer, diplomat, songwriter, and civil rights activist.

Why was the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz Age important to African Americans? It was important because it helped African Americans gain more popularity and more attention, they also introduced new music and and new ways of living. It overall helped African Americans get closer to freedom from segregation.

Harlem jazz band

Zora Neale Hurston is an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author. Hurston wrote 4 novels and more than 50 of her short stories, plays, and essays were published.

Harlem 1920

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Entertainment has Arrived here in America By: Samantha Reis Entertainment is blowing up all over America. One is the radio. On the radio you can listen to live music, sports events, comedy, and broadcast shows. More than 12 million families here in America listen to the radio. That is one-third of the nation's population. Dancing is a big part of our culture. There are dance moves such as the shimmy, the charleston, and the fox-trot. Dance marathons are being held all over America. Dance marathons are dance contests at which winners received prizes for remaining on their feet the longest. Most last a week. The longest recorded was won by Mary Promitis of Pittsburgh and her partner. They kept dancing for a total of three weeks.

The movie theater is a great place to go if you want to sit back and relax. Over 100 million people go to the movies every year. When you go to the movies you can listen to it in silence or a “talking” version. You can also go to the movies to see hot new actors. Such as Clara Bow John Gilbert, Douglas Fairbanks, John Barrymore, Rudolph Valentino, and Ronald Colman. New York Broadway musicals are popular entertainment. Songs from Broadway shows with catchy tones and lyrics, are becoming popular through radio programs. Sports are also very popular. Tons of people loves to watch Jack Dempsey box and Babe Ruth play baseball.

Music is very popular, especially Jazz. Mostly enjoyed by African Americans, and exploded in large cities. You can listen to jazz through the radio, gramophone, records, and jazz clubs. King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band. The most famous jazz band today.

The Roxy theater in New York that sets five thousand people. 16


Sports By: Cade Zschiesche Harlem Globetrotters

Boxing

January 17th, 1927 this new team that started in a ballroom will be hitting the big time. Their game is held in Harlem in a new stadium that the team will get to use. Many people are expected to show up to this game and many people are expecting the Harlem Globetrotters to win.

Patrick Dempsey has done it! Heavyweight Championship. The Babe Ruth of boxing some say has won his first belt against Fireman Jim Flynn who Dempsey knocked out in the second round. Dempsey broke Flynn’s jaw and a few ribs, also fracturing a few deep bone facial fractures. Dempsey didn’t have very good footwork, although his punches came strong and fast. Dempsey’s record remains at 13-1.

Harlem Globetrotters

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10 Questions with Babe Ruth “I said I’m going to hit the next one right over the flagpole. God must have been with me. 10 questions with Babe Ruth

Q: How many homeruns do you hope to hit this season?

Q: When did you first start to play

Ruth: I’d like to hit at least thirty plus

baseball?

homers this season.

Ruth: I first started to play when I was

Q: Did you like playing for the Red Sox

sent to a catholic school by my parents

or Yankees more?

when I was seven years old.

Ruth: They are both great teams, but I

Q: Who has helped you improve in your

would have to say the Yanks.

baseball skills the most?

Q: How have your parents impacted your

Ruth: Brother Matthias helped me

baseball career?

practice pitching and fielding, I met him

Ruth: They sent me to a new school as a

at St. Mary’s the school I went to as a

child where I learned about baseball.

child.

Q: What was your childhood like?

Q: Who offered you your first contract?

Ruth: I was a bit of a trouble maker, that

Ruth: Jack Dunn from the Orioles gave

is why my parents sent me to St. Mary’s.

me a contract after watching me for less

Q: What’s your salary this year?

than an hour.

Ruth: This year, $80,000.

Q: Where were you born?

Q:What was the best moment in your

Ruth: I was born in Baltimore, Maryland.

career so far? Ruth: Definitely the 1918 World Series.

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CHANEL


Bibliography Molly: "America's Decades: The 1920s-P." Alibris. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. "New York Architecture." New York Architecture. N.p., 2003. Web. 18 Oct. 2015. Staff. "Yes, If The Naacp Was Founded By White People Then Who's Driving The Bus." The Black Man. N.p., 18 Oct. 2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2015. "THROUGH ZENA'S EYES - BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2011." : Feb 26 – Harlem Renaissance: Romantic, Profound and Political. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2015. Woog, Adam, Michael V. Uschan, Erica Hanson, Petra Press, Stuart A. Kallen, Gini Holland, and Gail B. Stewart. A Cultural History of the United States: Through the Decades. San Diego, CA: Lucent, 1999. Print.

Samantha: Baughman, Judith S. American Decades: 1920-1929. New York: Gale Research, 1996. Print. Lüsted, Marcia Amidon, and Jennifer K. Keller. The Roaring Twenties: Discover the Era of Prohibition, Flappers, and Jazz. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. "A Study of Great Advertising: Print Ads From Coca-cola." Snoack Studios Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. "UNIT THREE Boom to Bust." EblockHonorsHistory -. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. U.S.A. Twenties. Danbury, CT: Grolier, 2005. Print. "Women." 1920's. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2015. Woog, Adam, Michael V. Uschan, Erica Hanson, Petra Press, Stuart A. Kallen, Gini Holland, and Gail B. Stewart. A Cultural History of the United States: Through the Decades. San Diego, CA: Lucent, 1999. Print.

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Bibliography Nick: "Babe Ruth Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com." Baseball-Reference.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. "Biography." Babe Ruth -. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. "Warren G. Harding." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.

Jack: http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/american-history-foreign-policyduring-the-1920s-115124654/116037.html http://www.ait.org.tw/infousa/zhtw/DOCS/OutlineEconomy/chap3.html https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Kingd om_of_Yugosl avia Kyle: Chadwick, Bruce, and Austin Sarat. Infamous Trials. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1997. Print. "Robot Check." Robot Check. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2015.

Cade: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_events_harlem.html 21


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