The Source:
Within “Jazzonia”, nightlife destinations united elites in clandestine fashion. While evoking creativity, social boundaries werebeing manipulated, funneling down to the public through various forms of media and bringing about change within the community. Common tropes including drugs, alcohol and sexuaity lead to systematic adaptations. Within the subconscious realm of creation, propaganda of African American socio cultural norms emerged.
Aleia Walker, business woman and daughter of Madam C. J. Walker developed affluence into influence by utilizing her position in society to host parties in her Wert 136th townhouse, most famously known as the Dark tower. The Dark tower and other nightlife destinations united elites like Zora Neale and Miles Davis in clandestine fashion: evoking creativity while breaking down social boundaries and bringing about change within the community.
Image: Townhouse of Aleia Waker, 136 Wst St. Harlem, New York.
Byron Company (New York, N.Y.) Museum of the City of New York. 93.1.1.10838
Politics: Upending the African American Image
Zora Neale was an american author who aimed to alter the perception of black cluture though folkore.
Image: Title Page of the Manuscript for Meet the Mamma: A Musical Play in Three Acts by Zora Neale Hurston. Library of Congress, Music Division.
Drugs: Jazz and Heroin
Miles Davis was a jazz musician and influencer of many other genres. He spoke about the authority of drug use behind the scenes in 1920s Harlem.
“There was a lot of dope around the music scene and a lot of musicians were deep into drug, especially heroin. People– musicians–were considered hip in some circles if they shot smack.” “A lot of Jazz musicians did heroin because of Charlie Parker. Bird was hugely admired and influential in the Jazz scene, particularly among Be-bop musicians. He was the guy they all looked up to and he and Dizzy Gillespie had the greatest band in the world.”
Excerpt from Miles, The Autobiography, by Quincy Troupe and Miles Davis
