Segregation and racism in the 1920s were trivial to the average African American, but putting that aside they were respected by many whites. The rise of the Jazz Age was due to the prohibition of alcohol. People sold alcohol illegally and many African Americans began playing the music known as the Jazz Age. Many whites came to see famous African musicians play in secret clubs called Cotton Clubs. In the 1920s, when there was prohibition and racism, many African Americans had to deal with discrimination and segregation among whites. During that time the Klu Klux Klan's population was at an all-time high. Being black was dangerous because KKK members were out hunting people who weren't white. Africans were driven out of the South by whites and also by the bot weevil. They were forced to migrate north. These areas had poverty. Fortunately, African Americans were able to overcome this hatred by creating a new era called the Harlem Renaissance. Make the North famous for its gigantic transformation and make it a success. The connection with Gatsby is that Gatsby had hired a band that played jazz. This came from African Americans as jazz influenced many people around the world. The Harlem Renaissance was a time when African Americans became famous, known, and respected for their music and literature. Many Africans were forced to work in the sharecropping system. The Klu Klux Klan had a great impact on Africans. During the 1920s there were only two main jobs Africans could choose from: sharecropper and farmer. This made life difficult for African Americans due to the lack of jobs available for coloreds. They were evicted from the south and moved to the north. “After t... half of the document... flex the crisis. However, the songwriters either ignored the economic difficulties or addressed them directly.” (Young). Musicians and writers were highly motivated; nothing could alter what they did. They continue to strive for better no matter what happens around them. The 1920s were a huge step forward for all African Americans. They showed the whites that they were not just a bunch of slaves and savages, they were equally equal to the whites, only they had a different skin color. Black people have shown their true potential when they have the right to do what they want. They created jazz which has dramatically changed the music industry to this day. They were loved by so many people and jazz became popular. There were also African poets and writers who wrote their deepest emotions. The Harlem Renaissance was truly a great success for all African Americans.