The Roaring Twenties was a decade marked by a volatile mix of excess, artistic flourishing, and economic collapse. In many ways, we’re seeing history repeat itself, though today’s era is better dubbed the Raging Twenties. While the Jazz Age exploded with creativity, it also paved the way for scandal, division, and an economy that was as fragile as it was booming. Fast forward a century, and we’re witnessing similar patterns unfold in real-time.

The Arts: A Cultural Renaissance… and a Battle Over Free Expression

In the 1920s, artists like Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Gertrude Stein, and Aaron Copland ushered in a new era of creative explosion that still influences us today. Similarly, in today’s digital age, artists and creators are breaking boundaries, using social media and new platforms to spread their messages. However, censorship and cancel culture threaten the same freedoms that were fought for in the past. Just like the cultural revolutions of the Jazz Age, we must protect the space for uncomfortable ideas to be voiced, even if we disagree with them.

Political Scandals and Corruption: Presidents and Their Troubling Legacies

Warren G. Harding’s administration is infamous for the Teapot Dome Scandal, a case of government corruption involving bribery and political cronyism. Today, we aren’t immune to the same brand of presidential corruption, from shady deals to political self-dealing. When the trust in government erodes, it creates fertile ground for further decay. While the current political environment is dubious, we must not overlook the lessons history offers us about holding our leaders accountable—before the system collapses under its own weight.

Congressional Gridlock: An Era of (In)Action

The 1920s Congress barely moved the needle on major reforms. After the passage of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, many thought the tide of progress would continue. However, much like today, the legislative process became bogged down by partisanship and lack of will to address the pressing issues of the time. A hundred years later, we still face a Congress that often prioritizes party over people, leaving hard-won gains in areas like healthcare, climate change, and voting rights at risk of being annihalated. We need to ask ourselves: what happens when we as citizens stop demanding accountability?

The Economy: A House of Cards?

In the Roaring Twenties, Americans saw a stock market boom, fueled in part by risky, leveraged investments. By October 1929, the bottom fell out, sending the U.S. into the Great Depression. Today, the promise of easy money is once again luring people into high-stakes investments in cryptocurrencies and AI-driven stocks. The rise of “get-rich-quick” schemes, coupled with corporate greed and an unhealthy dependence on speculative markets, mirrors the speculative excesses of the 1920s. Just as before, these financial bubbles are bound to burst. We must be cautious and mindful, and most importantly, learn from the past.

Racial Division and Hatred: Echoes of a Dark Past

The violence against Black Americans in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921, remains one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history, with hundreds of innocent lives lost and an entire community destroyed. The resurgence of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan was a frightening reflection of the racial divides of the time. Fast forward to today, and while we’ve seen some progress in racial equality, hate crimes and white nationalist movements continue to rise. Nationalism, fueled by fear and division, is tearing at the fabric of our society. The consequences are grave—lives are lost, communities are divided, and democracy itself is at risk. We must act decisively to heal these divisions, as history is already repeating itself.

Why History Matters Now More Than Ever

As we face the challenges of our own “Raging Twenties,” it’s crucial to understand that history has a way of repeating itself. We’ve come full circle on many of the issues that shaped our grandparents’ lives: political corruption, racial injustice, and economic instability. But we can learn from their mistakes. The way we respond—whether in the arts, politics, the economy, or racial reconciliation—will shape the legacy we leave behind.

The question isn’t just about how we fix things—it’s about whether we will. The opportunity to act is here, and it’s more urgent than ever. The past isn’t merely something to study; it’s a map that shows us where we’ve been and warns us of where we’re headed. We have the tools to create a better future, but only if we’re willing to confront uncomfortable truths and act with resolve.

It’s time we confront the current political upheaval. It’s time to take a stand. Will we repeat the mistakes of the past, or will we create a new legacy for ourselves and future generations? The stakes are high, and we must all do our part to ensure history doesn’t get the last word.