DGHM 110: Introduction to Digital Humanities

Black Swan Label

We understand the significance of the artists themselves, like Josephine Baker and Ethel Waters, however, without the black run labels, like Black Swan records, the black artists of the day would have had a great deal of trouble getting recognition. Harry Pace launched the label in 1921. The fact that Black Swan records existed, and was black run, owned and operated was of extreme cultural importance. The typical white run record labels of the time exploited black musicians and artists, often crediting the song writing to themselves, and leaving the artist penniless and without residual rights to the publishing. Statistics and facts concerning the exploitation of black artists going across the history of recorded music from its inception and the creation of the phonograph, to the invention of the mp3 are all open to examination using the internet as a valuable resource. The fact that this music survives in its untouched, preserved and packaged whole hearted state, on Black Swan, is a testament to the tenacity and industry of Harlem. These recordings exist today and can even be purchased on websites like Discogs.com as well as eBay, and the like, or they can be heard on Youtube.com, or any other media outlet making such music available. Information now even exists on Omeka. Black art, black poetry, and black publishing helped Harlem become legendary, and synonymous with the black American experience. Harry Pace is a pioneer, and his contributions to Harlem provided not only a first in business, but a classy soundtrack for the people then, and still today.