The Evolution of Music in Black Music in America by James Haskins

Eileen Southern’s The Music of Black Americans: A History she examines the influence that African Americans had in the holiness churches in music and worship. She initially starts with the landing of the first Africans to the colonies and she creates a phenomenal conversation of the musicians in the new world. She details the progression in the gospel, classical, jazz, rap, blues and the contributions they made.

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.

African Americans had a major role in the development of popular entertainment in America. Following the Civil War, black Americans, developed a new style of music called ragtime which eventually evolved into what we now know as Jazz. In developing Jazz, African Americans contributed knowledge of the dance and folk music of people across Africa. Together, these musical forms had a major influence on the development of music within the United States and around the world during the 20th century. Early jazz and blues recordings were made in the 1920’s and the early part of the 20th century saw a constant rise in their popularity.

Blackface performances were popular in American theaters for roughly 100 years, beginning around the 1830’s. In 1950’s blackface minstrel shows, white and black performers were not able to share the stage therefore they opted to paint their faces black with polish. These “black” characters were always portrayed as either villains or comedic. Blackface had been used to make arguments for slavery and why African Americans should not be given full human rights. These are narratives created by white men that were made to oppress and dehumanize an entire race of people. The minstrel show clip titled “Cotton and Chick Watts Blackface Minstrel Show Comedy” we are shown a very degrading performance put on by two white

“Rock music is important to people, because it allows them to escape this crazy world. It allows them not to run away from the problems that are there, but to face up to them, but at the same time sort of DANCE ALL OVER THEM. That 's what rock and roll is about” (Pete Townshend). The concept of rock and roll music had eased into the music industry in a time after a crippling war and a great depression. The mid to late 20th century was home to innovation, rebellious teens, and a devastating war..The introduction of rock music has influenced our country and molded it in many ways as the genre progressed and has found a place in our culture.

Our music industry would not be what it is today without one of America’s greatest music legends, Duke Ellington. He made major breakthroughs at a time when the odds were against him. He was born Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (1899-1974).He was a natural and has many life achievements that have contributed to the genre of jazz. He was a catalyst in his era. His music spoke to the soul. He defied the odds with his musical accomplishments. It was not everyday blacks were awarded the opportunity to shine in America’s spot light. He was able to take leaps in an industry when African Americans were not afforded the opportunities other races were privileged to partake in. During this era segregation was prevalent. African Americans were not allowed

“The Harlem Renaissance brought a new age of culture, music, art, dance, and literature for African Americans between WWI and the Great Depression” (Wintz 7). “In the postwar period, these developments in music and literature accelerated” (Wintz 10). “The two great music forms, the blues and jazz, emerged out of the African American experience around the turn of the century” (Wintz 9). “Both the blues and jazz are African American folk music” ( Haskins 41). The blues were born in slavery, it showed the hard times of slavery (Haskins 41).

Throughout the late 19th century, African Americans did not have the same rights as white people, which led towards the establishment of Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow laws segregated blacks from whites in a political, educational, and social setting, which created unfair treatment towards people of color. In Devil in the Grove, four African American boys, known as the Groveland Boys, were falsely accused of raping a white woman in Florida, which was known as the Groveland case. Thurgood Marshall, who was a part of The National Association of Advancement for Colored People (NAACP), helped to solve the Groveland case, as he was an advocate in fighting against Jim Crow segregation. The labor force, vigilante groups, and legal precedents led towards the establishment of Jim Crow policies by segregating black people from white people in public areas. African Americans contested these policies by creating legal organizations that overturned cases supporting segregation laws and using music as a way to protest against the Jim Crow policies.

Each year, millions of American travel by airplane. However, only a minority of the population are forced to check their rights when they check their luggage. As fundamental that citizens should be able to reach their destination with their privacy and other civil liberties intact, it is becoming increasingly harder. Being asked to remove your shoes and walk through a metal detector is nothing compared to what women — and some men — with natural hair have been forced to endure.

American Music is a melting pot of different cultures, emotions, experiences, and therefore genres. It is incredible to see how as music evolves and changes with the time, so does The United States. We are a mixed bag as a country, accepting all different cultures and backgrounds. This has led to many breakthroughs and innovations in music throughout history. We are all influenced by our experiences in life and this is no different in the evolution of music in American History. The Blues was created from African American Slave songs, with lyrics that narrate the hardships of the human experience at the time. These rhythms and forms carried over and eventually created what is now Rock and Roll. Over the next five weeks, we will explore and discover five key genres and artists who are known to specialize in that genre as a way to reconnect with our history and explore the possibilities for innovation in music in the future.

Beginning in the 1840s, minstrel performances featured both black and white actors. In 1855, many all-black groups joined the minstrel scene. Historians typically portray minstrelsy as an art

The Evolution of Blackface: Minstrelsy in the 19th and 20th Century - Present Day Thesis: From society’s positive conception of its whimsical beginnings, to its rapid downfall from its overwhelming negative relationship with slavery and racism, blackface has been a prominent form of entertainment in the media for several centuries. Origin of Blackface/ How Blackface was Established in Minstrelsy (Who usually performed in blackface/ how performers acted while in blackface) (EXPLAIN WHAT MINSTREL SHOWS ARE COMPOSED OF)All it took was dark makeup (usually composed of burnt cork) on the face, and sometimes the lips were painted lighter as well in order to accentuate the black makeup. Blackface became popular in the United States through its use in minstrel shows; however, the act of blackening ones face was not an unusual act in America during slavery. Many performers have used blackface as a form of entertainment for a number of decades prior to its well-known introduction in minstrelsy.

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

Negro music has evolved exponentially since the beginning of it during the eighteenth century. It branched off from the original Negro spirituals back in the 1700’s. Black music has changed and evolved into many different kinds of music and changed the meaning of this type of tunes and melodies within the music.

Musicians don't retire; they stop when the music ends. Louis was a man that made jazz very well known. Louis was what some people might call a prodigy. Louis started as a boy of trouble to a man of soul and music.