Effects Of Prohibition On The Harlem Era

iisA Jazzy Time with Prohibition
The age of jazz, rebellion, and vivid African American culture was the launch to a new beginning and this beginning was the Harlem Renaissance. The start of this rage all happened in the roaring 20’s. With this also came Prohibition. Also known as the “Noble Experiment”, Prohibition was instated on January 1920, under the 18th amendment which made the selling, manufacturing, and distributing of alcoholic beverages illegal. (Rosenberg, 2008) This affected everyone no matter what race they were. However, the Harlem age had to experience it full front for they were both in the same time, and it impacted this decade and the people significantly. As Prohibition was first established, experts believed that crime…show more content…
These were underground saloons that sold alcohol illegally, and started popping up everywhere. When the darkness started to ascend into the city, was when the real fun began. These were the hot new clubs that everyone wanted a piece of. Beats hit the floor as hard as the bodies gyrating to the music, this was the place to let loose and escape the troubles. Skirts became shorter and morals started to slide out the window. The nightlife became so hot in Harlem that whites began to venture there to tame their curiosity. (Howes, Slovely, 2001) Soon after, many people of the white community were in the same social gatherings as blacks.
Two events came together in history to make a masterpiece. Prohibition and Harlem are two opposites but sometimes opposites attract. Even with all of the problems with Prohibition, without it the Harlem Renaissance would have never got its soul, flavor, and such a vibrant culture.

Work Cited
“Harlem Renaissance” Africa and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2008. Credo Reference. Web 26 February 2012.

Rosenburg, J.. "Prohibition." About. About.com, 2008. Web. 24 Feb 2012.