The Black Community Through Vocal Or Instrumental Sounds

Billy Joel said, “I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music” (Music Quotes). Whether we realize it or not, music affects our lives greatly. The only thing for us to question is how. How does music impact your life and the lives of others? What does music do for us? People of all ages benefit emotionally, physically, and academically from music.

In the world today, music has become a big influence on everyone. With the power of music, each person has the ability to accomplish goals even if the music is country or rap. Most people believe that music can change a person’s mood or behavior which is true. Without music people could not control the way they act. Most music has the power to affect a person’s mood and other music can get them out of control. If music did not exist the world would be tedious. Without having music, people would not be able to motivate their moods. With the magic of music all people tend to have clear minds and better spirits. Music has the ability to put a smile on their face and a special song in their hearts. Even though most people feel confident about a special song, this can change their mind about how country music is better than rap music.

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.

Many black musicians used their music as a platform to express the struggles that their community experienced daily during the 1980’s and 90’s. It allowed them to represent their anger or sorrow without acting out violently while also spreading awareness to the listeners about their stories, ideas, struggles, deep emotions, and the messages behind their songs. Lyrics to songs can bring a lot of meaning to a person or society. Music is an art and showcases an individual’s spirit. Hip hop music has brought many messages forward, for example the song Expression by Salt n Pepa had lyrics that showed the public how to be yourself and how to let lose. On page 7 of “Understanding Black American Aspects in Hip Hop Cinema” it talks about how during slavery the slaves would make up songs that would lift the spirits of the people working. Some of these songs had messages about freedom and dreams that the slaves had. Considering most songs have an impact on people, the slaves would create a culture of music that was brought forward. Craig Werner talks about genres and their impacts on the black culture.

For as long as mankind has walked on this earth, music has been an important part of our culture and lifestyles. Each walk of life beats to a different drum. Different cultures use music for many aspects of their lives; for religious purposes, for celebrations, for comfort, for sorrow, for relaxation, for sports, for dances, for energy, for learning, for sleeping, and for sexual experiences. Everyone uses music for something. Music connects with people and reaches them in ways that words simply cannot. Music is a representation of what feelings sound like. It expresses emotion and brings that characteristic out from within us; it tells us a story. Every generation has its’ own sound and different music styles have emerged and become

Music has been known throughout time. It can help us through everything. There are so many solutions with music to help a person go through so many situations. Music can affect many people in many different ways. Without music some people would be lost and would have no motivation. Music can provide inspiration and insight through education. Music has influence on suicides, killings and shootings, and provocative actions. It can also influence good morals, respect, allowing differences, health, and much more. Music can come in many forms and categories and music is very good for the world.

Music, it helps the world go ‘round. Whatever kind of music you like, how often you listen to it, it's all up to you. Most likely, you will enjoy many different genres. Often times, it helps you express yourself beyond speech. And like the French poet Victor Hugo said, “ music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that cannot remain silent.”

In many ways technology makes access to academic work, research and employment easier and faster. However, I am concerned that technology is too often chosen over humanity. Historically,representations of African Americans in technological media tend to value "white" bodies at the expense of Black bodies (Stam and Spence, 1983). Further, recent studies show (Zickmund 2000), in fact, the ways in which some World Wide Web sites make it easier for hate groups to spread their misinformation, contributing to the devaluation of black bodies in technological media. Together, these media representations can be understood in terms of a digital devide between technological "haves" and

Many parts of music popular culture was created or directly influenced by Black music. Through the history of Black musical forms, each style represented a reality of the Black community, whether regionally or based on the time period and politics. Before enslaved Africans had the education to write their stories, they were told orally, often set to music. Highlighting the genius of a people, when there were ideas and stories that were adverse to those in power, Black people were able to hide their true messages in a song. This tradition never changed, even with emancipation, reconstruction, civil rights, and black power. Still oppressed in many different ways, music still captures and retells the reality of life as a

African-American music and literature has been embraced by all cultures globally hands down. The power in music shows how all cultures are embracing African-American music and literature into their cultures and societies. Artist today have so much pressure to crossover to be adaptable to other cultures so that they are marketable or saleable to the industry proves how powerful music can be to our culture. The idea that art of Blues which came from African American culture evolved from a time of pain and oppression was embraced by whites secondhand in creating the genre of music known as Rock-n-Roll. Music has touched so many cultures at one time worldwide through the likes of Iconic performers over the years when we see concerts in other countries where English is not spoken yet the audience knows every word of the song is proof that that music is powerful. Music lures our emotions and it makes an impact on connecting different cultures across the word. Beyoncé’s “Formation” was an illustration of how artist use music to direct attention to inequalities and the need to come together against wrong doings. However, Michael Jackson, U2, Madonna, Selena, Kendrick Lamar just to name a few in this era all have used music to convey a hidden message either political or social the issue was spoken and protected via music. Needless to say the beauty of music is the Freedom of Speech that comes along with the freedom of creativity, many have been tested yet all have failed to stop Music from being the vessel to carry on

Hip Hop is more than just music and lyrics; it’s a culture that set the latest trends for fashion, slang, and ways of life. Since Hip Hop holds such a powerful influence on the world, how do the artists’ depiction of their musical expression display the African American community as a whole?

Musicians are some of the most influential people on earth. Since time immemorial they have used songs to entertain and deliver messages to the public. Music has been used in the past to promote peace, promote gender equality and provide awareness on matters such as the environment and certain illnesses. Music and social issues are heavily intertwined. Music has been known to affect various social issues in the society while social issues can affect the music that is been produced.

1. A common overarching theme between the two readings was the subject of race and technology being tightly connected. The article Race after the Internet notes that “The digital is altering our understanding of what race is as well as nurturing new types of inequality along racial lines.” This unravels the alarming truth that all of which encompasses race is being altered through the usage of media on the Internet both shifting our understanding of the subject matter and creating new techniques of racial discrimination. The other article Integrating the Histories of Race and Technology puts forward that technology was an important element in the beginning of racial identity in America- the history of Technology itself was made color blind, discounting other notable black individuals that contributed to significant changes. If there is one thing that both articles have in common, it is that technology has played an important role through the deciphering and understanding of race.

When people say "music saved my life," they are saying they found themselves once to be weak and eventually found strength through music. You can find yourself alone in the life you live but when you listen to music you realize you'll never be alone. I believe music gives people a sense of hope that they don't have to feel like they're the only one's going through things. Music can express more than words and it gives people a constant when their world seems to be chaotic. It's something some people need in their life and to be who they are and go on day by day.

The role of music in society can be best imagined when one thinks of a world without music. Music serves as a personal