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During the twenties there was an explosion in the Harlem night life, witch effectively began its artistic movement in the area. Harlem was a place where blacks owned and operated their own business, and black police offers roamed the streets, free of the tyranny of many American bigots. The roaring twenties facilitated the lucrative night life of Harlem because many had more money to spend and more time to waste. A popular night spot called the Cotton Club Hosted many famous artists, such as Duke Ellington. The Cotton club catered only to whites, and employed only blacks. The night clubs of Harlem were filled with illegal liquor, witch drew wealthy whites into the neighborhood. Speakeasies covered the community. Harlem became so fashionable that everybody wanted to be part of the action. Jazz, witch was all the craze at the time centered in Harlem. Jazz witch was decidedly southern came to New York with the great migration, which brought many southern traditions north. The Charleston was a popular dance developed by African Americans that was readily adopted by wealthy whites. The famed night life of the Harlem Renaissance was centered towards whites only, as it was viewed as a place to escape the constraints of life and "respectability. Illegal liquor was openly sold, due to police pay offs by the mob, and other organized crime. People of all walks of life gravitated to the Harlem night life, but there was a striking dichotomy between the Harlemites, and their wealthy visitors. Most Harlemites could not attend the top dollar night clubs, so to make extra money they held " rent parties" which held a small entrance fee to enter a house party with lots of liquor and entertainment. Many musicians, dancers, and actors got their start at theses rent parties.
Writers of the Harlem Renaissance were constantly surround by plays and theater witch facilitated a positive creative atmosphere.
