The 20th century witnessed enough injustice and two great wars that made democratization a priority in the US foreign policy. The leaders of communist’s states depicted America as a cultural black hole.
In order to silence the Cominform’s peace offensive in 1950, the Congress for Cultural Freedom (CCF) was created the Central intelligence Agency (CIA). It recruited numerous employees and set up offices in over thirty-five countries. Moreover, they also held international conferences and held art exhibitions. This move was aimed at showcasing the European and United States high culture to the neutralist foreign intellectuals. Funds from the CIA were laundered through agency fronts i.e. the Fairfield Foundation and legitimate foundations such as Rockefeller and Ford and directed towards projects that promoted anti-communism.
Most of the American government organization used Broadway musicals, classical symphonies and jazz performances as tools to persuade audiences worldwide that America was the native home of music. However, CCF adopted a more diplomatic approach, focusing all its efforts on displaying all European performances and works that been banned by the communist states.
Louis Armstrong played a significant role in the Cultural Cold War. He was the symbol of racial progress, United States culture and foreign policy. He was appointed as the Goodwill Jazz Ambassador during the reign of Jim Crow. His primary duties were to represent the commitments of the U.S in promoting the liberation of African Americans and social freedom. His performances attracted large crowds as his support for the African course was unbiased.[1] As much Amstrong advocated for the American foreign policy strategies in Africa, he did not support some of the decisions implemented in the South.