The Cotton Club

Founded by the gangster Owney Madden, the Cotton Club opened its doors on December 4, 1923. The club provided entertainment for white New Yorkers that wanted to experience Harlem’s famous nightlife, and at the same time avoid its more dangerous aspects, such as the over crowded streets and hustle-bustle of every day city happenings. The Cotton Club presented the best in African American entertainment to an exclusively white audience. It was by far one of the most prevailing nightclubs of its time. With the constant commotion that occurred almost every night during the major performances, the Cotton Club was a hub of communication between white and black Americans. Through the music that the African Americans created, black performers communicated messages to whites. They explained their need to be treated as equals in the American society. The music performed at the Cotton Club caused whites to understand the pain that segregation caused black Americans.

The Cotton Club’s performers eventually became popular at a national level when the Columbia Broadcasting System, one of the emerging radio networks, began to broadcast from the Cotton Club in 1927. The Cotton Club of the late 1920s and 1930s helped to define the emerging African-American culture of the period. It coincided with the other aspects of the cultural movement during Harlem Renaissance such as literature.
          

   Map of Location of Cotton Club

African Americans have always been in the vanguard of American music, if you watched the Grammies last night you probably agree that this is still the case.

           -Interview with Master Teacher, Laura Daigen-Ayala

        
©2005 -A Inspektor, Razani, Shany and Wolpa Production-

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