When the Negro was in Vogue

Harlem Renaissance and Nightlife in the 1920s

• Harlem experienced a cultural renaissance in the 1920s, influencing literature, music, and art.
• The Cotton Club was a popular venue in Harlem, but it operated as a Jim Crow club for wealthy whites, excluding ordinary African American patrons.
• The influx of white visitors into Harlem's nightclubs and bars led to discomfort among the local African American community.
• The period was characterized by the presence of distinguished white celebrities at Harlem parties and the social prominence of Harlem's African American elite.
• The cultural scene in Harlem included the opening of churches as attractions for white tourists and the success of plays and books by African American authors.
• The period saw successful commercial depictions of African Americans by white writers and even instances of blackface performances by white actors.
• Harlem's nightclubs were described as side shows for sensation-seeking whites, with some venues primarily attracting a more primitive, local clientele.
• The Sugar Cane Club, a popular Harlem nightclub, was frequented by a rough-and-ready, happy-go-lucky crowd, featuring unsophisticated jazz music and vulgar performances.
• The Glory Hole, a dive bar in Harlem, was a gathering place for unskilled laborers and women who enjoyed swearing, drinking, and dancing.
• The Bamboo Inn, a Chinese-American restaurant in Harlem, was a select venue for debutantes, college students, and dignified matrons, offering Oriental cuisine and jazz music.
• The nightlife in Harlem catered to a diverse range of patrons, from the rough-and-ready local crowd to the more sophisticated and selective clientele.
• The description of Harlem's nightlife reflects the complex social dynamics and cultural diversity of the period, with different venues catering to various social groups and offering distinct forms of entertainment.