blues

The creation of Jazz was essential in life as we know it because Jazz was extremely popular amongst the youth. In order to change the world for the long term the youth must be targeted and the old perceptions and thoughts of older more conservative and racist generations must be proven to be inadequate. When the white kids in both the south and the north began enjoying Jazz it gave a lot of spotlight to some of the best Jazz composers which a majority of which were African American. The youths respected the music which helped young whites across the nation develop the respect for black men and their work. As more and more whites indulged in the Jazz music they got a taste of black culture while being shown that humans intelligence, strength, and work ethic does not depend on the color of ones skin.

“Listening to and enjoying these recordings not only unified the listener with the artist, but also with African-Americans in other communities across the country, giving them a voice and a place within the chaos of urban life” (Schoenberg 1). Even as popularity of African American bands and musicians grew, these race records were not broadcasted. “…record producers felt that white audiences would be more inclined to buy jazz

Women of the blues brought the black culture to a new chapter of recognition. They made blues as a popular music, and gave an opportunity to black culture to be accepted and also gave the people a chance to do something (a job) beyond the scope of plantation. They brought the blues to a performance stage and make it more universal so they can fit in not just to black listeners but also the white. Although on their first performance their blues were not considered as the real blues, because blues was considered to be man culture and in order to be able to sing the blues, a man should experience a journey mostly a bitter journey. Actually the women also experienced a journey and it was not a merely sweet and easy journey.

However, the first band to create a jazz recording was an all white band who called themselves The Original Dixieland Jass Band, so although Whites accepted this new form of music, they didn’t give credit to the Blacks at first. Eventually, jazz became America’s popular music which was exported internationally, and of all the Black musical forms, jazz is the most highly developed and successful.

White performers were used for the popularization of jazz music in America. Even though the jazz movement was taken over by the middle class white population, it facilitated the blend of African American traditions with the white middle class society. Cities like New York and Chicago were cultural centers for jazz, and especially for African American artists. Some famous black artists of the time were Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. Jazz was not always enjoyed and liked by most, at one time people t... ... middle of paper ... ...us, or insecure about.

The 1920s was a huge step forward for all African Americans. They proved to the whites that they weren’t just a bunch of slaves and savages, they were equally the same compared to the whites just different skin color. Blacks showed their true potential when they have the right to do what they want. They created jazz that drastically changed the music industry till this day. They were loved by so many people and jazz became popular.

The music, literature, and intellectuals resulting from the Harlem Renaissance helped to show whites that blacks could create art, achieve professionalism, and be as cultured as whites, which resulted in the change of some stereotypical views of whites, which in turn let the black equality movement advance with less resistance. The accelerated growth of music, literature, and intellectual achievement brought to attention that blacks could achieve as much as whites, and provided many examples. A major part of the Harlem Renaissance was the music, specifically jazz. The music of the Harlem Renaissance was enjoyed by the young white population in the speakeasies and dance halls, which, with the radio, spread the popularity of jazz and promoted imitation by white bands, and led to the merging of black and white music styles. The Harlem Renaissance was lucky enough to start about the time of prohibition.

This respect carried over to society slowly but surely. During the Vietnam war, music played a crucial role in the societal evolution into a state where emotions fueled actions, more emphasis was put on equality, all opinions counted. Before the war started, a wealthy white man by the name of John Hammond worked to integrate black and white music.1 Since his childhood, he enjoyed the music of numerous black artists, and he wanted to share his love with the rest of America. He used much of his inherited fortune to make this possible. He went against the general opinion of society and his parents, who despised black people.

Blacks had also fought in the war and felt content that when they return home life would change for the better, but that wasn't quite the case when they returned. The minds of whites had not changed even after the fact that blacks had contributed to the war as well as the whites and, this feeling was transparently displayed by the whites situated in southern states; apart from having very menial jobs, segregation had also become a big part of their existence. Whites had separate restaurants, waiting rooms, laundrettes and drinking fountains. The subject that highlighted segregation was the case of Southern schools being segregated, which caused the blacks to be deprived of their equal educational rights; giving the whites a better chance of succeeding in society. This was looked at as a vital issue, as with no education the path would seem very short for black children who where supposed to be the future of America.

The Harlem Renaissance was more than just a literacy movement: It was about black pride, fueled by the demanding of civil and political rights. The Renaissance came together with blues and jazz music. This had attracted whites to speakeasies. At these speakeasies interracial couples danced together. Despite how big the Renaissance is it had a very little impact on the Jim Crowe laws, but it did reestablish black pride within the black community.