The Civil Rights Movement: How it Changed Jazz
“Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze, Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees. “Strange Fruit” initially performed by Billie Holiday depicts one of the initial repercussions of the Civil Rights movement‒ a lynching. Holiday’s expression of the event delivers an overall timbre and mood for jazz in the coming era. The development of the Civil Rights movement and opposing factions had lasting after effects on jazz music and, consequently, its performers.
The Civil Rights movement sparked an influx of songs that used a mournful sound to express their message. Billie Holiday's strange fruit was one of many …show more content…
Edward Kennedy Ellington, better known as Duke Ellington, never took formal action in forwarding the Civil Rights movement but his accomplishments helped to forward civil rights. On the biographical page of his website it says, “Duke Ellington influenced millions of people both around the world and at home. He gave American music it’s own sound for the first time… His legacy continues to live on and will endure for generations to come.”(Duke Ellington Biography). Being a well known bandleader in his time, caused Ellington to travel the country, appearing in front of many audiences. Contrary to the racial stereotypes of his time, Ellington portrayed an image of a formal musician that held high esteem in society that redefined what a colored man was. The way Ellington presented himself, let both black and white audiences know that an African-American man could achieve greatness. As a musician, his music is standardized and continues to be played in jam sessions throughout the country by musician of all races and walks of life, providing more to his image as a progressive in his
“Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze, Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees. “Strange Fruit” initially performed by Billie Holiday depicts one of the initial repercussions of the Civil Rights movement‒ a lynching. Holiday’s expression of the event delivers an overall timbre and mood for jazz in the coming era. The development of the Civil Rights movement and opposing factions had lasting after effects on jazz music and, consequently, its performers.
The Civil Rights movement sparked an influx of songs that used a mournful sound to express their message. Billie Holiday's strange fruit was one of many …show more content…
Edward Kennedy Ellington, better known as Duke Ellington, never took formal action in forwarding the Civil Rights movement but his accomplishments helped to forward civil rights. On the biographical page of his website it says, “Duke Ellington influenced millions of people both around the world and at home. He gave American music it’s own sound for the first time… His legacy continues to live on and will endure for generations to come.”(Duke Ellington Biography). Being a well known bandleader in his time, caused Ellington to travel the country, appearing in front of many audiences. Contrary to the racial stereotypes of his time, Ellington portrayed an image of a formal musician that held high esteem in society that redefined what a colored man was. The way Ellington presented himself, let both black and white audiences know that an African-American man could achieve greatness. As a musician, his music is standardized and continues to be played in jam sessions throughout the country by musician of all races and walks of life, providing more to his image as a progressive in his