Arts and the Armory 

If we were to follow Clifford Johnson out of The Cosmopolitan Club and explore another of his artistic passions, we would arrive at the Akron Armory. The Armory, a significant venue in Akron, housed military regalia from the National Guard and showcased Johnson's water-colored paintings and etchings. This transition from "little Harlem" to the larger "metropolis" of Akron, Ohio, is a testament to the cultural importance of the Armory and, by extension, the Howard St. area.  To reference my research on the Akron Armory, click here for my Cleveland Greenbook post.

In all of the discussions we have had for our 'Round Howard St class, the goal for our project is to provide a more truthful narrative for life on Howard St. To do that; we want to show the correlation and separation of the Howard St. area to the greater portion of Akron. From my research into the Akron Armory, I found that some of the racial divides seen in Akron come to a mix there. Many of the events I found were for a variety of people and topics ranging from the arts to politics. It was well-known that people would gather there for large and small city goings on. This speaks volumes to how we view the city and its outer views on the racial divide, but how does it correlate to The Cosmopolitan? It shows that there was a need for the Black community of Akron to have a place downtown and a place of their own on Howard Street. The Armory was a place for visitors and outreach, while The Cosmopolitan was an example of home. Although the Cosmopolitan Club was nowhere near the size of the Armory, it was, too, a place for the arts to flourish. Music flowed out of the busy club as bands continually played for the patrons. 

Ron Ponder, who shared his life experience in one of our class sessions, said that it was always full. Ponder grew up on Howard St. and worked at the Mathews Hotel. His description of "full" would imply that it was a successful business and was enjoyed by many people. Then why have some individuals from outside of Howard St seen the area as a "depressed urban" area? Acknowledging historical prejudice against the Howard St area and its entertainment clubs is crucial. When I've discussed the Armory and Howard St. with people, I've often heard, "Oh, I didn't go down there." This dismissive attitude towards a cherished community underscores the importance of our mission to reintroduce the history of Howard St. It's not just about preserving the memory of the Howard St neighborhood but also about challenging long-standing prejudices in the outer vicinity. Clifford Johnson's unique connection to the Armory and the Cosmo is a powerful example, demonstrating that it's possible to be a part of both the Ins and the Outs of Akron.   

A Disclaimer On Language and Content: 

 The presence of harmful language and attitudes was present during the period Howard Street was in its prime (1930s-60s) and is not something we took lightly. The assessment of those subjects as relevant to the narrative we are honoring was considered extensively, and material considered harmful was left out so as not to further tarnish what remains.