the Jazz Singer (1927)

    Much like Birth of a Nation, the 1927 film The Jazz Singer is a film that is very important to cinema history. Although sound in movies had been around for nearly a year before The Jazz Singer had opened in a theater on Broadway, The Jazz Singer is known for its revolutionary use of synchronous sound (Kehr). People loved the film and it was considered to be a box office hit (Kehr). The film is upbeat, funny, and easy to follow. Any movie goer from that time would indefinitely have been satisfied with the film.
    Looking at the film today however, one immediately notices the use of blackface that is now considered shocking. The difference between reactions to this film compared to Birth of a Nation have more to do with the content and messages being displayed in both films. In Birth of a Nation people, especially African Americans, were horrified with the degrading portrayals of the Blacks, along with the brutality they received from the “heroic” figures. So then, why were people not as upset with The Jazz Singer?
    This film in compared to Birth of a Nation, is much more relaxed and entertaining. The main character Jakie Rabinowitz (Al Jolson) is striving to be an entertainer himself! He is able to make the audience laugh without directly degrading Blacks, while also having us sympathize with him.
    In the film, the main character who is born into a Jewish family whose father is a Cantor who highly does not accept performance of these new to the era jazz tunes and considers them to be a disgrace to God. But, Jackie is talented. He reaches the audiences he preforms in front of and they love the crackle in his voice, and the tones he creates. Its new, fresh, and becomes funny when he poses as a Black man, the type of person who is known for such music.
    The film concludes with a satisfying ending. As Jackie preforms (in blackface) in front of a packed theater a song dedicated to his mother, who is watching in the front row. Jackie has won the heart of his family and we as an audience were there with him along for the ride.
    The film was released during a time period when racial discrimination was reaching its boiling point. At this point the Ku Klux Klan was increasing with followers, and “white supremacy” was a message that rang throughout the country. Between 1920-1927 an estimated 416 Blacks were lynched in Southern States by members of the KKK (Racial Discrimination in America During the 1920’s). Blacks fell to the bottom of the minimum wage scale and were the last to get hired and the first to get fired (Racial Discrimination in America During the 1920’s). Also during the 1920’s Blacks were facing discrimination through the act of segregation. In most public areas such as trains, parks, and even cemeteries, Blacks were segregated from Whites (Racial Discrimination in America During the 1920’s).
    Although it was not seen as that controversial (in comparison to Birth of a Nation) due to the way that society had failed to accept African Americans in the 1920’s, The Jazz Singer today is viewed as very racist. Having a white man play a white character who preforms and entertains as a Black man would be very unacceptable today. His alter character, the Black jazz singer, is not a person but a figure in entertainment. And by preforming as such a man, The Jazz Singer offends the entire Back community of yesterday and today.

Jackie confronting his sick father.

Jackie singing to his mother in his usual white self. His father walks in and becomes very angry.

Jackie in character about to preform, upset that his family doesn't accept him.

Jackie preforms to an audience, his mother is in the front row.

Massive crowds in front of a theater showing The Jazz Singer.