In the paper the intention is to break down and analyze the book, “Blues Legacies and Black Feminism”, by author Angela Y. Davis. The authors background will be introduced with a basic biography followed by an in-depth analysis of the author’s educational background to give the author credibility to this topic. Mrs. Angel Yvonne Davis was born on the 26th day of January in Birmingham, Alabama. She was born in a time period in one of the most known segregated area in the south. She grew up in an area known as “Dynamite Hill” because of violent attacks on black families that moved into that area. Because of her family’s living situation Mrs. Davis would sometimes live with her friend in New York City. Davis attended segregated schools growing
…show more content…
Mrs. Davis took up her undergrad at Brandeis University a newly integrated university and later gained her Masters at the university of California where she was later employed. Davis also received her Doctorate at Humboldt University of Berlin. Davis’ activism was influenced by a Berlin native, Herbert Marcuse. Davis’ friends she made while in Germany were active in social groups influencing her to participate and the formation on the Black Panther Party along with Marcuse moving to the states for a job swayed Davis to return home. She became affiliated with the Black Panthers Party and known as a feminist. Her activism utterly affected her career as a professor at the University of California. In a time period after school Angela Davis became highly known around the nation. Former president Ronald Ragan, then the Governor of California had Mrs. Davis fired because of her Communist connection. Davis was also accused in aiding in a murder of a judge which cause her to make the FBI’s …show more content…
Each chapter has a different song title in it. Based from that topic the author goes in-depth on the meaning of each. The first chapter she expresses her thought on the on blues and her definition. She is giving her opinion on how blues was created. She also explains women’s influence on the genre. She speaks on how the blues in seen as a sad music or a music that suggests African American struggles and pain before emancipation. Her definition of blues is described as a sexual music. At that point in time sexual relations were frowned a pond and most definitely should be in a song. The South was known strongly for religious and still is to this day. Gospel was having a strong presence in the south and with the creation of blues music there was a distinction created. The distinction between “God’s Music” and “Devil’s Music” was created because of the sexual orientation that came and is still with the blues. The author described Bessie Smith’s nature at one point, which gave more insight on Bessie’s lyrics. She used an example of Bessie’s encounter with a Klansmen. This feminist author is showing female dominance at its best. Bessie was a self made millionaire in a time were oppression and suffrage still exist. Even with Gertrude Rainey, the term “ma”, significances meant boss. She wanted to be known as “ma” because of the respects mothers received. The author had many views in this book that
Mrs. Davis took up her undergrad at Brandeis University a newly integrated university and later gained her Masters at the university of California where she was later employed. Davis also received her Doctorate at Humboldt University of Berlin. Davis’ activism was influenced by a Berlin native, Herbert Marcuse. Davis’ friends she made while in Germany were active in social groups influencing her to participate and the formation on the Black Panther Party along with Marcuse moving to the states for a job swayed Davis to return home. She became affiliated with the Black Panthers Party and known as a feminist. Her activism utterly affected her career as a professor at the University of California. In a time period after school Angela Davis became highly known around the nation. Former president Ronald Ragan, then the Governor of California had Mrs. Davis fired because of her Communist connection. Davis was also accused in aiding in a murder of a judge which cause her to make the FBI’s …show more content…
Each chapter has a different song title in it. Based from that topic the author goes in-depth on the meaning of each. The first chapter she expresses her thought on the on blues and her definition. She is giving her opinion on how blues was created. She also explains women’s influence on the genre. She speaks on how the blues in seen as a sad music or a music that suggests African American struggles and pain before emancipation. Her definition of blues is described as a sexual music. At that point in time sexual relations were frowned a pond and most definitely should be in a song. The South was known strongly for religious and still is to this day. Gospel was having a strong presence in the south and with the creation of blues music there was a distinction created. The distinction between “God’s Music” and “Devil’s Music” was created because of the sexual orientation that came and is still with the blues. The author described Bessie Smith’s nature at one point, which gave more insight on Bessie’s lyrics. She used an example of Bessie’s encounter with a Klansmen. This feminist author is showing female dominance at its best. Bessie was a self made millionaire in a time were oppression and suffrage still exist. Even with Gertrude Rainey, the term “ma”, significances meant boss. She wanted to be known as “ma” because of the respects mothers received. The author had many views in this book that