The Cotton Club: Jazz, Prohibition and Segregation in Harlem
In the heart of Harlem, the Cotton Club embodied the contradictions of the 1920s: a temple of jazz, a showcase of luxury and a symbol of very real segregation. Founded as the Club Deluxe, taken over by Owney Madden and made famous by Duke Ellington, it helped Black culture reach a national audience while keeping Black patrons at a distance.