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How Did The Jazz Age Impact The Civil Rights Movement

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How The Jazz Age and The Civil Rights Movement Impacted American Society.
By Abigail Ash

The Jazz age and the fight for civil rights in America caused the integration of black American arts into mainstream American culture. These played a crucial part in reinventing American society in the 19th century. Black American art of the time, like Jazz, impacted the American mainstream so much that the period was called the jazz age. The books “The Great Gatsby” and “Theme for English B” can show how these two events transformed US people's identity in the 19th century.
In The Great Gatsby, we can see the influence of the Harlem Renaissance on everyday life in the 1900s. Jazz is brought up multiple times in the book “The piece is known,” …show more content…

Many black Americans played for white crowds due to the musics' immense popularity. It brought people from all races together. In another scene, the characters are dancing “I remember being surprised by his graceful, conservative foxtrot—I had never seen him dance before.”( The Great Gatsby) The fox trot also was invented by black Americans. Much black art and music were wildly popular then, though sadly, these black innovators would not get due credit or recognition. The musical culture of the 1918s, otherwise known as the Jazz age, is heavily inspired by the works of black Americans. This artistry is integral to The Great Gadsby because it fills most scenes. Another evoking movement happening In America was the fight for civil rights. Some black American activists would express their ideas and reservations through literature and writing. One of these writers was Lanfstion Huges. In the book, he addresses his white professor. “But it will be a part of you, instructor. You are white— yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. “(Theme for English …show more content…

The Jazz age created an appreciation for the art of black musical cultures like jazz in the Gate Gatsby, and the Activist movement publicized black literature and ideas. Like Theme for English B., both events brought up black arts and created an interest in it which changed how some white people thought of them. However, During the Jazz age, white people still refused to support or uplift the black artist they were listening to. For example, In the Grate gatsby Tom, a wealthy white man says, “ It’s up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things.”(The Great Gatsby) This shows white people justified the abhorrent view of the time that many white people felt. It also displays how extreme lack of acknowledgment of black achievements. In contrast, the black civil rights movement was created by black people who saw to support and raised black voices along with their art. While both historical events had some similarities, their purpose was pretty

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