In this Book
- Black Culture and the New Deal: The Quest for Civil Rights in the Roosevelt Era
- Book
- 2009
- Published by: The University of North Carolina Press
summary
In the 1930s, the Roosevelt administration--unwilling to antagonize a powerful southern congressional bloc--refused to endorse legislation that openly sought to improve political, economic, and social conditions for African Americans. Instead, as historian Lauren Rebecca Sklaroff shows, the administration recognized and celebrated African Americans by offering federal support to notable black intellectuals, celebrities, and artists.
Sklaroff illustrates how programs within the Federal Arts Projects and several war agencies gave voice to such notable African Americans as Lena Horne, Joe Louis, Duke Ellington, and Richard Wright, as well as lesser-known figures. She argues that these New Deal programs represent a key moment in the history of American race relations, as the cultural arena provided black men and women with unique employment opportunities and new outlets for political expression. Equally important, she contends that these cultural programs were not merely an attempt to appease a black constituency but were also part of the New Deal's larger goal of promoting a multiracial nation. Yet, while federal projects ushered in creativity and unprecedented possibilities, they were also subject to censorship, bigotry, and political machinations.
With numerous illustrations, Black Culture and the New Deal offers a fresh perspective on the New Deal's racial progressivism and provides a new framework for understanding black culture and politics in the Roosevelt era.
Sklaroff illustrates how programs within the Federal Arts Projects and several war agencies gave voice to such notable African Americans as Lena Horne, Joe Louis, Duke Ellington, and Richard Wright, as well as lesser-known figures. She argues that these New Deal programs represent a key moment in the history of American race relations, as the cultural arena provided black men and women with unique employment opportunities and new outlets for political expression. Equally important, she contends that these cultural programs were not merely an attempt to appease a black constituency but were also part of the New Deal's larger goal of promoting a multiracial nation. Yet, while federal projects ushered in creativity and unprecedented possibilities, they were also subject to censorship, bigotry, and political machinations.
With numerous illustrations, Black Culture and the New Deal offers a fresh perspective on the New Deal's racial progressivism and provides a new framework for understanding black culture and politics in the Roosevelt era.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Title Page, Copyright Page
- pp. i-v
- Acknowledgments
- pp. xi-xiv
- Introduction
- pp. 1-14
- 1 Ambivalent Inclusion
- pp. 15-32
- 2 Hooked on Classics
- pp. 33-80
- 3 The Editor’s Dilemma
- pp. 81-122
- 4 Constructing G.I. Joe Louis
- pp. 123-158
- 5 Variety for the Servicemen
- pp. 159-192
- 6 Projecting Unity
- pp. 193-240
- Bibliography
- pp. 287-300
Additional Information
ISBN
9781469604619
Related ISBN(s)
9780807833124, 9780807899243, 9781469619064
MARC Record
OCLC
676697440
Pages
328
Launched on MUSE
2013-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No