IT IS 2020 YALL! How crazy is that?? We're in a brand new decade starting a brand new task and continuing old ones. I hope this is as exciting for you as it is for me.
As many of you may know just by doing simple math the year 1920 was 100 years ago. And it just so happens to be one of my absolute FAVORITE eras. And when I say favorite I mean it, I'm literally over here squealing over my keyboard. Since middle school, I have always been enamored by the glitz and glamor of that time. I mean, there was sooo much going on. Women were given the right to vote (shout out us), people began to inhibit more urban areas than rural, the prohibition, the Harlem Renaissance (African American culture was at a peak AND being recognized!), the Yankees game premiered over the radio, the first "talkie" movie was released, and it all ended with a bang. The stock market crash. But for right now let us focus on the endless possibility aspect for a moment.
As an African American woman, the amount of progress being made in that era makes me feel even more motivated and hopeful. So many advancements were being made, both technological and social. What a time to be alive. I could say the same for today. What a time to be alive. I look around and I see nothing but talent and unlocked potential. New visions being expressed. I see passion. That was the one theme that stuck out to me throughout the 1920s. Passion.
A prime example of that era is the public figure, Josephine Baker. She was primarily a french entertainer but when she heard about the Harlem Renaissance she returned to America for her big break. Throughout her career in Harlem she encountered opposition and was even called "too ugly, too thin, too dark," but that didn't stop her. Because of her passion, dedication, and pride, she prevailed.
Elizabeth Welch once said (regarding Josephine), "She had a black sealskin coat, I don't know if it was real, but when she wore it, it looked real, she would take a piece of silk and tie it around her head, and even then she looked like some oriental empress."
Josephine's passion and ability to embrace who she is landed her as one of the most impactful influencers today. She invented the original Charleston and became a symbol of beauty...as a black woman in the 20s.
In conclusion, while the 1920s had its share of controversy and setbacks, it was a time where passion brought people together and WE created. I'm expecting for that legacy to continue now and in years to come. Welcome to the roaring 20s, time to bring your wildest dreams to life.