African-Americans created a unique style of music that has played an integral part of American culture and shaped the development of African-American life for many decades. \Throughout U.S. history, the music scene has been a unique one compared to other countries, due in large part to the influence of African-American artists whose music reflects their struggles and triumphs. One only needs to browse through the albums of such African-American musical artists to see the creative talent and cultural impact they have created throughout the years. These historical giants created a unique style of music that has played an integral part of American culture and shaped the development of African-American life for many decades.These musical influences…
African American Music came about during the time of slavery in America. Africans from many different ethnicities and nationalities built their religious and secular rituals, festivals, and social gatherings on the foundation of song, dances, and rhythms they invented to cope with the New World realities. During the slavery era, enslaved African American became the musicians of choice for white and black celebrations because they were recognized as the best “musicians” around. Enslaved Africans…
Beginning in the seventeenth century, the first African slaves were brought to the North American colony of Jamestown, Virginia to aid in the production of profitable crops is where a soon to be flourishing slave trade witnesses Africans being snatched and carried to America in bondage, separating them from their families, leaving them with no sense of familiarity. Although, unfortunate, out of this state of anguish and distress came the development of a new culture. Vast generations of Africans…
Back in enslavement time, African slaves brought their music to the North America. They were singing and dancing to voice their suffering and to worship God by field hollers and ring shouts. African slaves used blues music for their religion and pray god within songs and their instruments. Over time, blues music and gospel emerged within oral tradition of African American culture in black community churches and they started to use blues music in the worship of God and the base music of the…
Music played a major part in African American history because it expressed emotions and feelings from the white oppressor through words. Africans spoke tales or poems during slavery to symbolize the power of the common people over unjust rulers and using them to “portray the ability of slaves to outsmart and ridicule their masters” (pg. 61). During the Antebellum period between 1820-1861, African Americans in Philadelphia wrote music and performed it in the orchestra. One of the best female…
Universal Language Music was there for me. Music has always been there for me. When I needed someone the most, it was there to fill the void. In the dark, when I couldn’t see myself or the people in front of me, music was the light. Living with mom in such a hazy world and in a literal sense, I don’t remember half of it. I only remember feeling so lost and empty. But I feel complete around music and people involved in music. Almost as if they are closer to family then kin-blood itself.…
As an avid music listener and frequent concert goer, I have noticed the lack of diversity throughout the rock, specifically alternative, music scene. No matter the style, there are relatively few Black artists gaining success in rock music, despite the historical impact African Americans have made on the genre. There are many possible causes for this racial divide in something as easily accessible as music, starting in the early roots of rock and continuing through the 20th and 21st centuries.…
Assignment 1 African American work songs were originally developed during slavery, between the 1700’s and 1900's. Because they were part of a culture where they couldn’t write, they decided to record the songs orally when the era of slavery came to an end after 1865. Many of their origins in African song traditions may have been sung to remind the Africans of home, while others were forced to sing these songs by their owners to raise morale and keep Africans working efficiently. They have also…
The African continent is about 20% of the worlds land mass. It has about 934 million people living within the area. There are over one thousand languages are spoken by the people of Africa some estimate this number to be closer to two thousand. One-third of the worlds languages are spoken only in Africa. In Africa, 41% of children aged 5 to 14 are involved in child labour. There are tribes that are still using tools that were found in caves hundreds of years ago. On average, people have to walk…
The roles between African-American music and dance that Hughes creates seem to be different, yet similar, in that music appears to be depressing, maybe even boring, while dancing and music both seem to be relaxing. The first thing that he states is “droning a drowsy syncopated tune… I heard a Negro play” (The Weary Blues, 1;3). This identifies that the music he is able to hear, comes from an African American. It may also signify that Hughes could have felt bored while listening to this music.…