2-5m-1-S1E36-Rent Parties

The rent party was a phenomenon that occurred from 1920-1950's particularly in areas like Harlem, to raise the money needed to meet the cost of accommodation,  which was often higher for black tenants.  They were covertly advertised on simple cards  as "Social Parties" or "Whist Parties"  Rent parties in Harlem often had music provided by stride piano stars like Fats Waller or James P Johnson. Harlem renaissance poet and man about town Langston Hughes collected these cards and some of his collection is viewable here and here. to steal from the master" Not too slow and not too fastbut a hip old podcast while it lasts" which in this case is 5 minutes!