Jazz Music In The 1920s

During the Jazz Age, jazz music, primarily dominated by African Americans before 1920, began to gain popularity among whites and transformed into an important aspect of American culture. The increased popularity of jazz music among black and white audiences allowed for the breaking of social barriers between blacks and whites, more opportunities for African American musicians, and a more accepting attitude towards African American musicians. Music has always played an essential part in African American life and its aspects have influenced the creation of jazz. Jazz music, referred to as “jass” before the 1920s, is heavily rooted from African- American folk music (Axelrod 48). Although some slave owners did not allow their slaves to partake in work songs, many allowed it because it provided aid to production. Work songs displayed their use of call and response and synchronization. In addition, African Americans expressed their longing for freedom and their loyalty to their faith through spirituals. Spirituals were primarily vocal, and included improvised lyrics and harmonies. Jazz music also borrows elements from blues music. The blues rooted from a southern African-American folk tradition, mainly consisting of …show more content…
The Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group stationed in the South, terrorized African Americans, and as well as immigrants, Catholics, and Jews going into the 1920s. .The Jim Crow Laws was also primarily instituted in the southern states; however, it affected northern states as well. These laws were a series of anti-black laws that upheld that whites were superior to blacks in all aspects of society. Segregation was instituted in hotel, libraries, entertainment, stores, and virtually every aspect of public life. However, jazz music allowed many African Americans to gain recognition by a white audience in a much segregated