The Battlefield When most of us hear the word leader, during the Civil Rights Movement, we think of great men like, Martin Luther King or A. Philip Randolph. However, Louis Armstrong must be considered as one of our countries leaders. Being an innovative musician he not only pioneered jazz but overcame barriers set by racism. He saw the musician, not the color of the musician. Louis patented his own style of music which became known and loved the world over. David Stricklin’s book Louis Armstrong gave us a detailed description of Armstrong’s life. By cracking open the pages of history we gain a greater understanding of his life and how he interacted with his environment. Armstrong was born August 4, 1901, in the Third Ward just west of downtown New Orleans. Stricklin quoted Gary Giddins, “Louis was raised in a house of cards in the middle of a gale,” which describes his life. His family moved later to a red light district known as, The Battlefield. Just the name, The Battlefield, makes one think of a harsh environment where you could lose your life at any moment. According to Stricklin he was primarily raised by his grandmother, and had to endure seeing his mother struggle economically, even subjecting herself to prostitution to provide for her family. His father had limited contact, which must have been difficult for Louis to understand, since he had another family. During Armstrong’s early adolescence the United States was in an era of reform, the Progressive Era, asking for far reaching reform in politics, business, poverty relief and conservation. Income levels were rising and the expansion of the middle class was significant at this time. Our country was becoming urbanized as the industrial revolution was exploding, while everyone looked to the federal government for answers. Growing up in New Orleans must have been exciting, being a major seaport and the gateway to the heartland of America. Sailors and passengers arriving from around the world, different cultures influencing everyone they came into contact with. Louis had contact with Jewish immigrants from Russia, the Karnofskys, who befriended him in his neighborhood. He worked for them buying and selling scrap metal, to earn money for his family. They even loaned him five dollars to purchase his first musical instrument, a cornet. He experienced firsthand the kindness, decency and humanity of their family. Louis remembered even at seven years of age how they were subject to discrimination by “other white folks” who felt they were better than the Jewish people.
Armstrong attended the Fisk School until fifth grade at which time he quit to help support his family. A difficult decision, which had lasting effects on him throughout his life. He spent time in the “Colored Waifs Home for Boys,” which turned his life around. Residing there engrained in him discipline and respect while providing relative stability in his life. Louis had a love for music and while there it fueled the flame inside him. The home had a band directed by Peter Davis who Armstrong said, gave him his first music lesson. Having strong role models in his life reinforced his desire to persevere. His cousin Isaac, “Uncle Ike”, had a great influence on Louis as well. He told him of his ancestry of slavery and said, “slavery turned blacks against each other and a background of slavery was not an excuse for people to feel sorry for themselves.”
With the “Post Civil War Era” fading and the “Industrial Revolution” was in full swing, America was changing. Many people had something new, leisure time and spending money! Middle class children of these families were known as teenagers, and they spent their money on jazz. Patronizing clubs where Louis hung out, clubs such as, the Funky Butt Hall, Odd Fellows and Matrangas. He believed the audiences ability to enjoy the song often had little to do with what song it was, it was just good music. The clubs he frequented, and began to entertain at were mixed patrons. He saw the foolishness of racism which engendered hate.
Armstrong grew tired of all the prejudices and was perplexed how blacks treated each other, such as the paper bag test. He bitterly disliked African Americans who made fortunes from having slaves themselves and whites who had black mistresses while being prominent citizens. World War I was ending and he believed it was time to move on. With the pull of northern money and desiring a higher degree of freedom, Armstrong embarked on his adventurous career.
With the eighteenth amendment ratification (Prohibition), organized crime had a greater influence in the clubs which employed entertainers. Women were granted the right to vote, which many African Americans had the right, but were not permitted to exercise in the Jim Crow South. Armstrong experienced a new complicated type of discrimination in the north, through racism and socioeconomically. Harding’s campaign slogan was, “return to normalcy”, Armstrong must have questioned himself. What does he mean, “return to normalcy?” With the twenties roaring to an end people endured the great depression, a lean time when everyone did without. Employment became scarce and Armstrong went to Europe to make ends meet. His manager did not make proper arrangements beforehand, and the hotel refused to accept blacks. Even going to Europe, he could not escape racism. His only escape was to keep playing his music which had no boundaries or color limitations, no paper bag test.
What set Armstrong apart from other musicians was his personality and serious approach to music. He tried to create his own band, “The Hot Five”, but he never enjoyed being a band leader. He relished the limelight but always preferred a subordinate role. His approach to racism was, “to work harder, play better music, and exude more goodwill than anybody, black or white, racist or otherwise.”
Louis’ soft power approach was the only method he knew. It provided him an escape from his past and allowed him to open doors other blacks at the time would not have been afforded. He appeared on Broadway in “Hot Chocolate” singing “Ain’t Misbehavin’.” He appeared in movies with Bing Crosby, such as, “Pennies from Heaven”, and was the first African American to headline a national radio show in 1937. Armstrong forged a trail through his perseverance for others to follow.
Many African Americans saw World War II as an opportunity to receive better treatment upon their return, but it did not transpire. Leading to a greater mistrust of whites and the federal governments’ unwillingness to abide by the laws already established. Louis kept playing his music often improvising which created a new reality for him and his music, giving jazz the symbol, “freedom.” He purchased his first home and was becoming an all-star, one of the highest paid musicians of his time. He frequented smaller venues to permit many who would not be able to afford to see him perform otherwise.
Even in 1949 New Orleans prohibited mixed race band performances. Louis would avoid traveling there most of his life because of discrimination. He chose his battles carefully and would not allow anyone to push him around. With the “baby boom” and “cold war” emerging, America was looking for a goodwill ambassador. Communist countries used racism against America, and in 1948 President Truman ordered desegregation of the military. Armstrong became part of America’s goodwill tour, drawing tens of thousands of people. Edward R. Murrow of CBS filmed him, and in 1957 he created an hour long program called, “Salute to Satch, Satchmo the Great.”
Armstrong’s breaking point occurred in 1957. Desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas was not honored by governor Orval Faubus. He sent in National Guard troops to maintain segregation and President Eisenhower did not act accordingly. Louis cancelled his tour to the Soviet Union after the photo of Elizabeth Eckford was published; she was being harassed by a group of white racists. He called Eisenhower, “a coward and was tired of the way southerners treated African Americans.”
Many blacks who criticized Armstrong in the 1930’s and 40’s, calling him “Uncle Tom.” Now, where distancing themselves and rebuked him for speaking out. Sammy Davis JR. and Adam Clayton Powell as well as others, criticized him for speaking with temerity toward President Eisenhower. Louis refused to play at any hotel that would not permit African Americans to stay overnight. His career was isolated and he wandered if he would be given employment again. Work did arise, and he was asked to appear in a film, “The Five Pennies”, with Danny Kaye in 1959. The government asked Armstrong to be part of their goodwill tour again beginning in 1960. Armstrong was a sign of hope to others around the world, the promise of freedom in America. Louis said, “he knew he had to master a societies rules in order to transcend them, especially America which said its essential ingredients were freedom and hard work.” Stricklin could have given an in-depth analysis of what Louis thought of the Civil Rights Movement and what his role was. Armstrong utilized the tools he was given to overcome the barriers he faced throughout his life. His charismatic personality made people feel safe around him and permitted African Americans to perform in white owned clubs. Louis broadened the perspective of the club owners and music executives so they could view the musician, not the color of the musician. He chose his battles carefully to help others win the war on racism, after all someone must be the tip of the sword.