The Cotton Club (New York)

The Cotton Club was a famous jazz nightclub in Harlem, New York, operating primarily during the Prohibition era from the 1920s to the early 1930s. It was known for its vibrant entertainment, featuring renowned African American musicians such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday, but it enforced a strict "whites-only" policy for the audience. The club played a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance, showcasing the talents of Black performers while reflecting the racial dynamics of the time. The Cotton Club remains a symbol of both the cultural richness and the racial segregation that characterized that era in American history.