Examples Of Prejudice In The 1920's

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The second decade of the Twentieth Century was a time of deep divide within The United States. While the 1920’s were commonly called “the roaring twenties” with American wealth doubling during the decade, Babe Ruth and the golden age of Baseball taking the nation by storm, and various revolutions in the American social experience, with women and men now socializing together in illegal “speakeasys”. Around the world economies were booming after the First World War, and revolution in countries like Russia were on the near future horizon. For how robust both America and the world was feeling at the time, great divides held the nation back. The nations colored population was still not receiving the rights they deserved as Plessy v Ferguson and …show more content…

Prejudice has been a part of America since the declaration of independence. Americans judged not only colored peoples within their own country, but immigrants trying to enter the United States for a better life. One of the many prejudices during this time was the prejudice against the nations colored population. This prejudice is shown well in Fred B. Watsons cartoon, “The Creeping Shadow” which depicts a man in the customary Ku Klux Klan uniform standing tall over the southern United States, while also casting a shadow over the rest of the nation. With all the progress made towards racial equality, such as the passing of the 13th and 15th amendments, still, the great divide of racism and racial prejudice continued to cast its evil shadow over the constitution and its values. Prejudice during this time also existed towards foreign immigrants. With international issues like the red scare, the rapid spread of communism, and chaos within some countries in Europe, a feeling grew among many Americans that the nation may not survive if these people are allowed in to the United States. This feeling is depicted very accurately in Billy Irelands cartoon, “We can’t digest the scum”. A man in this cartoon is seen stirring a melting pot that represents America, while doing so, things within the pot such as “Bolshevism”, “Red Flag”, and “Mad notions of Europe” can be seen. This is a good representation of the fear many felt that if foreigners were allowed into America, the problem they were fleeing from would be brought with them. The title “We can’t digest the scum” is accurate of the fear that many felt America couldn’t survive bringing these people in. Prejudice towards colored people had always existed in America, including the 1920’s, and prejudice towards foreigners seems to never

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