New Opportunities for WomenFrancis Perkins

First Female appointed Secretary of laborFirst Female AmbassadorSeveral Female Federal Judges

What could be the political consequences of the above actions?

Mary McLeod BethuneHeaded the National Youth Administration, The

Office of Minority AffairsTo ensure the hiring of African Americans within the

NYA and provide job training and other benefitsHelped build a “Black Cabinet” to help advise the

President.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs John Collier sought to reverse the forced-assimilation policies in place since the Dawes Act of 1887.

He promoted the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 (the Indian “New Deal”), which encouraged tribes to preserve their culture and traditions.

Not all Indians liked it; 77 tribes refused to organize under its provisions (200 did).

Motion Pictures and RadioProvided an escape from everyday life and

hardships1st radio station and broadcast was in Paterson NJ

MoviesMany reflected social and moral themes in society

Gangster Films: The Public EnemyDramas: Gone With the Wind

Many entertained the publicSlap Stick Comedy (physical)Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, & the Three Stooges

Embodied the democratic spiritBy the end of the 30s, about 90% of all homes

had a radioOffered a great variety of programmingSeveral radio program would later became

fixtures on American TV

Helped along with the WPAInspired many public works and productionsFederal Art Project

Decorated many public buildings around the nationDiego Rivera

Individual artEdward Hopper NY painterGrant Wood Iowa artist

LiteratureCaptured the real America

Richard Wright, An African-American AuthorNative Son: Biopic of his youth in the face of racism

Zora Neale HurstonTheir Eyes Were Watching GodA young women growing up in rural Florida

John SteinbeckCaptured the effects of the DepressionThe Grapes of Wrath, In Dubious Battle, Of Mice and

Men