Jo-Na Williams Biography

Ever since 2011, ‘The Supremes’ has been the vocal group that most interests me. Originally called the ‘Primettes’, this female singing group was founded in 1959 and has since been one the most successful groups to date, in America. (Bronson, 265) The singing group had four original members, yet only three of the four made it to the peak of the group’s career; those women being Diane Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard. Proof to this group’s success would be the fact that they rivaled the band ‘The Beatles’ in worldwide success and fame during their prime in the 60s. Not only did they challenge another wildly known band, they did this whilst also making a headway for future generations of African American musicians, which contributes to

I have definitely learned a lot about the Evolution of Music in this class. I found it to be very intriguing. So when I was faced with the chore of deciding what I would do my report on, I chose to use the book Black Music in America by James Haskins. This book gave a detailed account of not only the music genres but it’s performers. American music is made up of music from many different types of ethnic backgrounds. What gives this book a plus is that it highlights aspects American music, and its performers. The people and events that really caught my attention were the concert singers, Minstrelsies, Jubilee songs, and brass bands. Born as a slave, a girl by the

In the twenty first century there are a few men in this world that admits when you think of artist, you don’t typically think of women. Women rights and racism play a strong role when it comes to African American female artist. For decades’ African American woman have always had a permanent double bull’s eye on their back. Their skin and gender was their worst enemy. In the 1700 century women rights movements started to rise. But if you look up women right movements starting in the 1700 century, the face of women rights is predominantly white women. Between books and the internet, they show that it was mostly white women who helped woman rights. If we still struggle to shine light on African American Women now in the 21st century, you cannot

Emerging out of the turbulent civil rights period in the United States, the majority of the black minority population finally found a means by which to express their voice to the world through music. This movement stemmed from two extremely different music studios located in opposite regions of the United States. One of these companies arose out of the north, which very rigidly rigidly controlled their product and polished young talent to fit an agenda. In contrast, its opposing studio began in the deep south and was raw, unrestricted, as well as organic, choosing to let any artist play regardless of who they were or how they performed. Together, these music production studios helped break down the racial segregation of black and white music, although they went about it in polar opposite ways.

The Hip Hop music industry is infamous for being controversial. In the article Hip Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women there’s a debate on whether the exploitation and constant verbal slander of women should be acceptable just because it sales records. It presents the question that why is it that male poverty breeds sexism? Even though women may have lived in the same environment males still see women as the enemy in their music in an effort to sell records.

In Blueprint for Negro Writing, Richard Wright makes the argument that all black artists have a social and moral responsibility to use their art to improving and uplifting African Americans and their culture. Wright believed that black artists should use their work to advocate for their race and to help address social issues and make changes for the better. Wright also believed that black artists were too caught up in trying to appeal to white audiences. Wright wanted African American artists to create work for African Americans instead. Wright’s stance on black art being made for a black audience and to address social issues is supported by the celebration of black heritage and beauty in Beyoncé’s “Formation” and Bennett’s “To a Dark Girl”.

During the Civil Rights movement, there were two types of people. Those who used their power to help others, and those who used their power to suppress the rights of the powerless. For musicians in particular, those who used their power and their standing in society to help others found themselves in the heart of a movement that was shaking America to the core. They had the opportunity to use their popular base of support to spread a message to the world: ‘the Civil Rights Movement is here, it is necessary, and it will prevail’. Through their performances, these people, whether soloists or groups, were able to spread the importance of, and garner support for, a movement that was taking shape in the American south.

Molefi Asante is the author of It’s Bigger than Hip-Hop: The Rise of the Post Hip-Hop Generation. In this article, Asante predicts that the post-hip-hop generation will embrace social justice issues including women’s rights, gay’s rights, and the anti-war movement. To challenge these stereotypes, Asante speaks to the personification of the African-American ghetto and the need to stop glorifying black suffering. For Asante, the post-hip-hop generation no longer expects hip-hop to mobilize disenfranchised youth. Asante states, “The post-hip-hop generation shouldn’t wait for mainstream musicians to say what needs to be said…No movement is about beats and rhythms…. it must be bigger than hip-hop.” Because hip-hop is controlled by corporations, Asante says hip-hop will never be the focus of political change. Asante argues that “old white men” have dictated hip-hop, and by extension the actions of black youth, since 1991. “Allowing white executives, not from the hip-hop culture, to control and dictate the culture is tragic because the music, and ultimately the culture, as we can see today, has not only lost its edge, but its sense of rebellion and black movement- the very principles upon which it was founded.” Asante calls for the rise of “artivism,” a new social movement that uses art to improve community police relations, failing schools and the criminal justice system. Asante encourages the post-hip-hop generation to unite with Latino/Immigration Rights and Black Civil Rights

The foundations of today’s popular music were built by an unlikely source: a poor white

Out of all the topics for our assigned Research Paper, I decided to write about the forgotten history of African Americans, the systemic oppression we faced and how that in turn affected the way society views black women blues music. There could be many reasons why so many students are never taught the untold history African american culture and how black woman helped shape the blues. All throughout my experience in the education system I can remember very select few times where I was taught about African Americans that did something positive for our community besides Martin Luther King Jr, Harriet Tubman, and the same famous historical scholars that we always repeatedly learn about throughout the school system. I was always taught to have

The broadcasting and recording industries did not solely represent the conquering racial assumptions of the 1950's, they internalized them and helped to continue them. Racial conventions permeated the organization and structure of the music industry at every level. The very existence

Music is a creative art form that allows the artist to construct something that expresses a purpose. It evolves over time and changes as the world changes, taking on many different motivations behind the melody and lyrics. In today’s society, anger, oppression, racism, and negative opinions rule the media and popular culture. I believe that African Americans need to show their self worth and not let white people hold them back. With the music in white culture often mocking African American culture and portraying negative stereotypes, African Americans have to find ways to gain respect. In acknowledgement of the negative portrayal of their culture, African Americans respond by creating songs and videos that express their pride in their culture and heritage, react to white oppression, and communicate their independence.

African American influence in music has been an ever present and controversial subject in American history. Stemming from many different cultures, religions and backgrounds, large portions of American music was introduced by, and credited to African Americans. Although in many cases, this music was used for entertainment by the masses or majority, contrary to popular belief, black music served a greater purpose than just recreation. Dating all the way back to the beginning of slavery in the U.S. during the 17th century, music has been used to make a statement and send a message. As African American music progressed over the years, there were common themes expressed as the genres evolved. It has been an open letter to the world, documenting and protesting the ongoing oppression faced by blacks in the United States, as well as an outlet for frustration. For many African Americans, the music gave them the only voice that couldn’t be silenced by their oppressors.

“Unfortunately, the history of black music has been a continuous one of whites’ lucrative expropriation of black cultural forms” (Kelley). “Black music has become a part of a structure of stealing” (Kelley) on the part of a white-dominated music industry. This structure began primarily during the jazz era of the 1920’s. Black jazz artists were exploited for their talent, without being given the full credit or compensation for their work that they deserved. Furthermore, their music and style was copied and credited to white artists, and the few black artists who were able to succeed in the industry were submitted to a form of musical segregation via race records.

Music is an important part of life. Its role as a form of art and entertainment is a significant one but more important is that it serves to reflect and reinforce societal norms and values. It is not only used to entertain but also serves as a form of social commentary (Baran, 2009). For instance, the emergence of Rhythm and Blues (R&B) in America after the Second World War was a means of advancing the black race and it helped blur the line between white and black as more young white people became aware of the distinctions that existed in the society. The Hip-hop and rap of the 1980s and 1990s had almost the same effect, awakening in Black Americans a sense of