What Are The Ups And Downs Of The 1920's

Ever since the inception of the United States of America in 1776, the country has gone through numerous eras of progressive turbulence: the 1920s was no exception. The twenties were a time filled with significant progress within the economy, education, and civil rights. However, massive setbacks accompanied these progressions as well. These “ups and downs” were contributors to the labeling of this era as, the well-known, “Roaring Twenties”. Specifically, many African Americans faced significant challenges including racism, discrimination, and segregation. They made important strides in their fight for equality, but their experiences highlighted the limitations of progress in the United States. Overall, The Roaring Twenties was a complex and

Louis Armstrong was a renowned composer, jazz musician, and singer who was one of the most influential artists in, the twenties and all of American history. Most Americans today know some of his hits such as “What a Wonderful World” and “West End Blues”, however, Armstrong was an early musician activist. The song, “Black and Blue’, details the rough and oppressive life of being an African American. He sings, “What did I do to be so black and blue?, Even the mouse ran from my house, They laugh at you, and scorn you too, What did I do to be so black and blue?” (Armstrong, 1929). Armstrong shares a relatable life and puts into perspective there's really what it is like to be an African American growing up in the United States. He sings about the discrimination and almost unprovided fullness about being an African American. This highlights the importance of “The New Negro’, giving African Americans a sense of pride and acceptance for who they are, regardless of the discrimination that is shown by ignorant people who judge those based on their skin color. Louis Armstrong's words are a source of storytelling, speaking from African Americans as a collective. The sources thus far have detailed the progression of the Roaring Twenties; however, Louis Armstrong details the setbacks that are still present during this

In 1926, there was a stout rise in the second Ku Klux Klan, claiming millions of members of prejudice and hatred. The corrupted mind is shown by the quote, “First in the Klansman’s mind is patriotism-America for Americans. He believes religiously that a betrayal of Americanism or the American race is treason to the most sacred trusts, a trust from his fathers and a trust from God.” (Evans, 1926). My interpretation of what this quote would mean in the context of the era is as follows. I believe that buzzwords are used in speeches such as Americanism, the use of the word sacred, and any form of religious propaganda in order to fearmonger listeners to feel a sense of being attacked by the other party. I believe that the Ku Klux Klan used these tactics to try to incite violence and mass discrimination toward African Americans. This is one of the most egregious setbacks during the Roaring Twenties. The progress mentioned in prior paragraphs does not necessarily ameliorate the state of racial equality during these