The Racist Scene

As the 1920’s proceeded to create a sphere of decadence around the lives of American’s, it so too blotted out the struggle seen by the minorities, and working class in America, specifically that of African American’s. The struggle for equality was for a long time, an issue in the government of the United States, but many felt that following the banning of slavery, and ratification of the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th amendments that the U.S would move into a new era. This thought of equality was only crushed when blacks were found to be constantly segregated, and mistreated. The idea of the 1920’s bringing America into the new era certainly left off the idea of equality for all. Even though women won the right to vote in the 1920’s they certainly did not become equals to men, both in the work force, and in the home. Consistent immigration also led to the discrimination of other ethnic groups such as the Italians, and Germans, who the U.S. resented following the end of the war. Throughout the 1920’s blacks were continually abused, refused rights, and forced into unfair work. 

Many people, specifically the rich felt that they should not have to work. This is seen in Gatsby when Tom talks to Daisy and Nick about how the Nordic race should rule over all. This ideal that their money would stay with them even without working for it led to the abuse of many minorities, specifically the blacks who worked for the rich. In a census in 1900 it was found that 35% of black men, and 45% of black women who didn’t work in farm labor worked for whites who made over triple their salary. This statistic is not shocking. Despite the equality found in writing blacks were still given very few opportunities by whites, this included a denial of education to children, as well as a lack of pay. These things kept blacks beneath the whites, for several years. As the blacks began to fight for total equality, the rise of terrorist groups like the KKK arose. Groups like these refused to recognize blacks as people, very much less than as equals. This denial was seen through things like Jim Crow laws in the south. 

As groups like the KKK refused to show blacks their rights, there was a major increase in violence, both towards blacks and from them. Things like unfair representation and other things began to outbreak in the U.S. In the eruption of Tulsa, “It cost the death of fifty white men; of between 150 and 200 colored men, women, and children; the destruction of $1,500,000 worth of property; the looting of many homes, and the everlasting damage to the reputation of the city of Tulsa.” (The Eruption of Tulsa Walter White) This outbreak was due to a claim by a young white woman that she was abused in a public hotel by a black man. Neither the women, nor the man were ever questioned, nor was there ever a public hearing or court appeal. This simple American idea of finding the truth and justice through a court of law was simply overlooked due to the color of one young man’s skin.

As blacks looked to find prosperity and continue to move forward in the 1920’s they often took jobs that gave unfair pay, and very little rights. Things such as being a butler, where they were on the job 24/7 without any breaks. It was found in a study that black butlers were often paid half the salary made by white butlers, and worked twice as hard. This form of inequality was most nearly the saddest and worst form of inequality in the 1920’s. As the country moved into an era of extreme wealth the black community was hoping to find some sort of escape from the poverty that had come to live with, and this form of escape was somewhat seen in the city of Harlem. But as more and more blacks began to search for employment, they were often met with unequal pay and harsh treatment. In the south these treatments were considered legal due to things like Jim Crow laws. 

Pictures

In a period where prohibition, and the law breaking of prohibition, dominated the land, the U.S. saw a huge increase in crime.  In this image your eyes are automatically drawn to the man in the foreground. He is in a suit, meaning he is obviously wealthy, he is holding 2 firearms, leading us to infer one of two things, he is either a police officer, or more likely he is a gangster. The second option is confirmed when you turn your attention to the background. In the background we see a dozen or so boxes, or cases of whiskey, most likely illegally imported from Canada and sold to eager buyers in speak easy’s. The entire picture is equally in focus, showing that each part of the picture is equally important. The man would have no business without the alcohol, and there would be no alcohol without the man’s lucrative business. The entire picture is black, which can lead to a dark or saddened mood. Some would argue this is due to alcohol being bad for you, others would say it is because this man is breaking the law. The image is a perfect example of what became known as the roaring twenties. Many young men and women began to fulfill their happiness through partying and drinking. As this happened the illegal trade and sell of alcohol became hugely popular, leading to gangs, and gangsters such as the man depicted in this image.

In the twenties, wealth, and how wealth was shown changed. Before the twenties the rich lived in exclusion, away from society in their farm houses, or secluded mansions, but as more and more rich began to flaunt their wealth scenes such as the one in the picture above became more popular. In the foreground you see the young man directing a parade of elephants, ridden by most likely the richest in the city. In the background you see the young men and women hoping to one day reach that status looking on in awe. Everything is in focus as the elephant march through downtown New York as it shows that the city was run by the rich, for the rich. The image is crazy for some, disturbing for others as it shows an incredible disparity in wealth, as the rich lived on thrones, literally, while the poor struggled every day to survive. The image further displayed the cultural beliefs of the rich in the twenties, that money should be spent, and shown off, not put in banks hidden away.

The image above is both an image of life style, but also an image of racism. As the wealthy began to grow farther and farther away from the poor, the idea of helping the poor became less and less appealing. Immigrants and specifically blacks began to be discriminated and hated upon by the leading white class. Your eyes are immediately drawn to the white family traveling in their car most likely across America, and then they travel downward to the line of African Americans, waiting in the soup line. The Foreground holds only white family which further enhances the idea of white above black, as the blacks are in the background and below the whites, very similar to how they were treated in society. The words in the picture clarify, and further enhance the idea hoped to be displayed by the photographer, that that blacks were harshly discriminated upon in the twenties. The image further shows the racist ideal that swept the country in the late twenties following the rise of hate groups like the kkk.