THE INTERNATIONAL SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM
Composed of 14- to 19-year-olds, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm got their start in 1938 as part of a school program for poor and orphaned children in rural Mississippi. By 1941 they broke off from the school to become a national touring sensation; one of the best of the swing era that, sadly, has too often been left out of the history books. The ‘International’ in their name was a nod to the many races within the group—members identified as African-American, Latina, Chinese, Indian, and Hawaiian. But when they brought on two white band members in 1943, Jim Crow segregation laws made touring in the south all the more difficult and dangerous. Additionally, the all-girl group was often labeled a novelty act and were overlooked by the press. We hope that this poster gives them a little bit of promotion they missed out on back then due to racism and misogyny.
Recommended Viewing: Look up their recorded performances of “Jump Children!” and “She’s Crazy With The Heat” on YouTube—you’ll be glad you did!
Recommended Reading:“The International Sweethearts of Rhythm” By Megan Mayhew Bergman in Oxford American [ISSUE 75, WINTER 2011]. It gives a poetic summary of their whole history. Available online.BLACK AND TAN SPEAKEASY
A haven for all races to enjoy the best of jazz music, the Black and Tan Speakeasy resided in the basement of a grocer in Seattle’s Chinatown district on Jackson St.
During the prohibition era, they were frequently the target of violent police raids and harassment, but its popularity never wavered and by the 1940s it was undoubtedly the most famous nightclub in the area. It’sreputation brought big time players from near and far like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Duke Ellington, Gladys Knight and Charlie Parker. At a time when racial restrictions and segregation in Seattle ran rampant, the Black and Tan was a refuge for the Northwest’s black, white, and Asian populations to come together and dance.
