1. How do you define the 1920s? What characteristics are most important in defining this decade?
The 1920s is often referred to as the Roaring 20s. In 1920 times changed and people began to live in cities versus rural areas. Way of life drastically changed and people started believing in living their lives differently than they had in the past. There were many economic, social, and political changes that changed the perspectives of many people during this time. There was lots of wealth during this time and the stock market was rising as well. People bought lots of goods because many products were commercialized now. They bought things such as electrical appliances and cars. Films, and the radio during this time were often main forms of entertainment too. Jazz was up and coming. Additionally, the United States had just gotten out of World War 1 so it was a better time for most people where they could enjoy versus worrying about war. The Harlem Renaissance which brought about African American forms of art and music in New York occurred during this time as well. Harlem Renaissance helped people see and experience African American culture through their art, music, poetry, and other artist endeavors. The Harlem Renaissance period would essentially set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement eventually. It was also a time which brought about flappers and jazz. Many people did not like these changes that occurred and were against this type of living and behavior. It went against their values and morals. They had the prohibition of alcohol during this time as well to try to prohibit such behaviors; however, people found ways around this to continue their lifestyle that they were seeking in the 1920s. Changes were occurring for African Americans and women during this time which would shape history.
2. Last week, we were introduced to the Prohibition Era. In the podcast, Billie Holiday v. the United States, connections are made between that era and the modern War on Drugs. How did the end of Prohibition lead to Billie Holiday becoming a target of the federal government?
“Billie Holiday helped shape American popular music with her voice and unique style. But, one song in particular has become her greatest legacy — "Strange Fruit." The song paints an unflinching picture of racial violence, and it was an unexpected hit. But singing it brought serious consequences” (NPR, 2020). The federal government/Narcotics Agency Bureau told her to stop singing her song, Strange Fruit. They were trying to quiet her and silence her voice. They used her addiction issues to their advantage and targeted her during this time.
Billie Holiday had an awful childhood which led to addiction problems. The federal government used her history with alcohol and drugs against her to try to silence her. Billie Holiday was a strong child who overcome many awful experiences such as being raped at the age of 10, having to work in a brothel at 14, and also withstanding abuse at a Catholic School that blamed her for being raped at ten years old. The school was her punishment for being raped and she was sent there to learn a lesson. They called her a prostitute versus helping overcome being a raped victim. All these awful experiences led to her addictions and problems over time. Because Billie Holiday had prior addictions the federal government used that to their advantage to try to silence her voice through her song, Strange Fruit, because they knew the song would gain popular attention about racial violence. Because she was such a good singer and so many people listen to her and she was a star the government wanted to stop her voice because people were listening to her words protesting against lynching in the U.S. Billie Holiday got push back from club owners not to sing it and she created enemies in the governments. She would stand up and sing a song in front of white crowds about racial violence. This was very unusual during this time and made many people and the government angry. They threatened her that if she sang the song then she would be arrested. She was an unusual person who stood up against the government and they didn’t like it. Billie was the target for the government to help end Prohibition. Billie was sentenced to a year in prison eventually as an example. Billie was not allowed to sing when she was released either. She tried to sober herself, however, they planted drugs on her which hurt her and led to her being unable to become sober. She continued to sing, Strange Fruit, regardless. She was very courageous and continued to speak up even if it risked her life and freedom.
3. And finally, the push back against Eastern European immigration leads to a new wave of nativism and the rise of the Eugenics movement. Explain the Supreme Court's decision in Buck v. Bell.
In 1927, the State of Virginia was able to sterilize Buck because she was seen as unfit to procreate. In Buck versus Bell Supreme Court case, they viewed Buck as feebleminded and allowed them to force sterilization on Buck. This allowed others to be forcibly sterilized and the rise of the Eugenic movement occurred. "The eugenicists looked at evolution and survival of the fittest, as Darwin was describing it, and they believed 'We can help nature along, if we just plan who reproduces and who doesn't reproduce. All told, as many as 70,000 Americans were forcibly sterilized during the 20th century. The victims of state-mandated sterilization included people like Buck who had been labeled "mentally deficient," as well as those who were deaf, blind and diseased. Minorities, poor people and "promiscuous" women were often targeted” (NPR, 2016). Many women were sterilized or even lied about being sterilized. Some women thought they were going in for procedures like appendicitis but actually were being sterilized. Some did not know they were sterilized until they spent their whole life trying to have a child and then discovering the truth. Later women, like Buck were actually found to be perfectly okay too. This violated so many women, in particular, the disabled, the poor, African Americans, unmarried women, and immigrants. It was used as a way for controlling unwanted populations during that time. For example, 7,325 people were sterilized under Virginia law, about 62% were women who were labeled as mentally ill or deficient. Some teaching hospitals in the south even performed unnecessary hysterectomy procedures on African American women. The sterilizations were done on children under 18 as well. This case opened up a domino effect that violated so many women and their chance to have children.
Work Cited
The Roaring Twenties, sites.austincc.edu/caddis/roaring-20s/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
“The Supreme Court Ruling That Led to 70,000 Forced Sterilizations.” NPR, NPR, 7 Mar. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/03/07/469478098/the-supreme-court-ruling-that-led-to-70-000-forced-sterilizations.
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” Apple Podcasts, 8 Oct. 2020, podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday/id1451109634?i=1000493988024.
“Towards the 1920s PowerPoint Presentation: https://Docs.Google.Com/Presentation/d/1aZQ9UtlcyvYc6l2vZ0AM.” Prezi.Com, prezi.com/vvmms6gja_td/httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1azq9utlcyvyc6l2vz0am/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
The 1920s is often referred to as the Roaring 20s. In 1920 times changed and people began to live in cities versus rural areas. Way of life drastically changed and people started believing in living their lives differently than they had in the past. There were many economic, social, and political changes that changed the perspectives of many people during this time. There was lots of wealth during this time and the stock market was rising as well. People bought lots of goods because many products were commercialized now. They bought things such as electrical appliances and cars. Films, and the radio during this time were often main forms of entertainment too. Jazz was up and coming. Additionally, the United States had just gotten out of World War 1 so it was a better time for most people where they could enjoy versus worrying about war. The Harlem Renaissance which brought about African American forms of art and music in New York occurred during this time as well. Harlem Renaissance helped people see and experience African American culture through their art, music, poetry, and other artist endeavors. The Harlem Renaissance period would essentially set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement eventually. It was also a time which brought about flappers and jazz. Many people did not like these changes that occurred and were against this type of living and behavior. It went against their values and morals. They had the prohibition of alcohol during this time as well to try to prohibit such behaviors; however, people found ways around this to continue their lifestyle that they were seeking in the 1920s. Changes were occurring for African Americans and women during this time which would shape history.
2. Last week, we were introduced to the Prohibition Era. In the podcast, Billie Holiday v. the United States, connections are made between that era and the modern War on Drugs. How did the end of Prohibition lead to Billie Holiday becoming a target of the federal government?
“Billie Holiday helped shape American popular music with her voice and unique style. But, one song in particular has become her greatest legacy — "Strange Fruit." The song paints an unflinching picture of racial violence, and it was an unexpected hit. But singing it brought serious consequences” (NPR, 2020). The federal government/Narcotics Agency Bureau told her to stop singing her song, Strange Fruit. They were trying to quiet her and silence her voice. They used her addiction issues to their advantage and targeted her during this time.
Billie Holiday had an awful childhood which led to addiction problems. The federal government used her history with alcohol and drugs against her to try to silence her. Billie Holiday was a strong child who overcome many awful experiences such as being raped at the age of 10, having to work in a brothel at 14, and also withstanding abuse at a Catholic School that blamed her for being raped at ten years old. The school was her punishment for being raped and she was sent there to learn a lesson. They called her a prostitute versus helping overcome being a raped victim. All these awful experiences led to her addictions and problems over time. Because Billie Holiday had prior addictions the federal government used that to their advantage to try to silence her voice through her song, Strange Fruit, because they knew the song would gain popular attention about racial violence. Because she was such a good singer and so many people listen to her and she was a star the government wanted to stop her voice because people were listening to her words protesting against lynching in the U.S. Billie Holiday got push back from club owners not to sing it and she created enemies in the governments. She would stand up and sing a song in front of white crowds about racial violence. This was very unusual during this time and made many people and the government angry. They threatened her that if she sang the song then she would be arrested. She was an unusual person who stood up against the government and they didn’t like it. Billie was the target for the government to help end Prohibition. Billie was sentenced to a year in prison eventually as an example. Billie was not allowed to sing when she was released either. She tried to sober herself, however, they planted drugs on her which hurt her and led to her being unable to become sober. She continued to sing, Strange Fruit, regardless. She was very courageous and continued to speak up even if it risked her life and freedom.
3. And finally, the push back against Eastern European immigration leads to a new wave of nativism and the rise of the Eugenics movement. Explain the Supreme Court's decision in Buck v. Bell.
In 1927, the State of Virginia was able to sterilize Buck because she was seen as unfit to procreate. In Buck versus Bell Supreme Court case, they viewed Buck as feebleminded and allowed them to force sterilization on Buck. This allowed others to be forcibly sterilized and the rise of the Eugenic movement occurred. "The eugenicists looked at evolution and survival of the fittest, as Darwin was describing it, and they believed 'We can help nature along, if we just plan who reproduces and who doesn't reproduce. All told, as many as 70,000 Americans were forcibly sterilized during the 20th century. The victims of state-mandated sterilization included people like Buck who had been labeled "mentally deficient," as well as those who were deaf, blind and diseased. Minorities, poor people and "promiscuous" women were often targeted” (NPR, 2016). Many women were sterilized or even lied about being sterilized. Some women thought they were going in for procedures like appendicitis but actually were being sterilized. Some did not know they were sterilized until they spent their whole life trying to have a child and then discovering the truth. Later women, like Buck were actually found to be perfectly okay too. This violated so many women, in particular, the disabled, the poor, African Americans, unmarried women, and immigrants. It was used as a way for controlling unwanted populations during that time. For example, 7,325 people were sterilized under Virginia law, about 62% were women who were labeled as mentally ill or deficient. Some teaching hospitals in the south even performed unnecessary hysterectomy procedures on African American women. The sterilizations were done on children under 18 as well. This case opened up a domino effect that violated so many women and their chance to have children.
Work Cited
The Roaring Twenties, sites.austincc.edu/caddis/roaring-20s/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
“The Supreme Court Ruling That Led to 70,000 Forced Sterilizations.” NPR, NPR, 7 Mar. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/03/07/469478098/the-supreme-court-ruling-that-led-to-70-000-forced-sterilizations.
“The United States vs. Billie Holiday.” Apple Podcasts, 8 Oct. 2020, podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-united-states-vs-billie-holiday/id1451109634?i=1000493988024.
“Towards the 1920s PowerPoint Presentation: https://Docs.Google.Com/Presentation/d/1aZQ9UtlcyvYc6l2vZ0AM.” Prezi.Com, prezi.com/vvmms6gja_td/httpsdocsgooglecompresentationd1azq9utlcyvyc6l2vz0am/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.