America is one of the most diverse nations in the world. It is a melting pot of cultures, which has made it a great nation. This variety of cultures has helped impact and build America into the great nation we are today. One of the cultures that has influenced America is the Black Culture. This particular culture is known for their evolution of music and fashion and also their trendsetting skills in hair and dance. Unfortunately, like every other culture, they have had to face cultural appropriation.
Although Motown did not start the civil rights movement or resolve any major problems in America, it definitely drew attention to the movement itself. For the first time in America, black artists were beating white artists in the charts and popularity. It was then that it became a lot harder for white people to justify their hatred towards the black population when they were listening to their music and watching them on tv. Although the lyrics of Motown were not dominated by pro-civil rights imagery, there were several songs such as Aretha Franklin's RESPECT that did help bring some attention to the cause (Motown: It’s True
Royalty cant buy you loyalty, tell me if I lose everything would you be over me? Hip-Hop, according to Dictionary.com is defined “The popular subculture of big-city teenagers, which includes rap music, break dancing and graffity art. Kodak Black, Kevin Gates and Lil Uzi Vert greatly contributes to this genre.
The Harlem Renaissance was a burst on African American’s expression of culture, arts, and writings throughout the 1920’s. It was in Harlem, New York, the movement allowed many African American poets, painters, musicians, authors and philosophers to express the beliefs in their people's culture. They wanted to be equal to white people so they showed that through their talents. Louis Armstrong was a key asset to the Harlem Renaissance due to his inspiring music and playing his instruments for African Americans people during this period.
James Brown is another person in my era who was very popular and well known for his influence on music as well the introducing of a drug into the lime light PCP. Brown was born extreme poverty but worked his way to be one of the greatest of the funk and R&B music making people give him the nick name "The Godfather of Soul." His musical style influenced many artists to come. Brown was also known for his crazy personal life, as well as role in activism for the black community in combination in his songwriting and advocating for the benefits of education to the
Benny Goodman also pushed for a diverse band, being the organizer of an interracial group (Swing). In this instance, it was through this connection to music that black and white people came together. At the time that swing was popular, World War II was taking place. It seems legit that people would want to get their feeling out somehow. Swing music did just that. It helped people let loose of their emotions and forget about the war and their personal lives for a few minutes. One way that they did this was the development of the swing dance. This dance was very popular and fun. In this style of dancing, people do not stop moving. It’s upbeat and very energetic. People would come together to hear this music and dance their hearts away. Swing music was important in the aspect of bringing people together based on race and also for people to just “hang
Their movements were slower, and their music sounded more ‘soulful’. They did not perform fast dances, and unlike before, their performances seemed more serious. Like the Jackson 5 clip, the background singers perform the same movements. Their feet cross over then they swing their hands up and down in a controlled fashion. If you slowed down Coles and Atkins clip, then Jackson 5 and Coles and Atkins performed similar dances minus the tapping. Cole and Atkins cross their feet multiple times, moving their arms in the same motion, and then they spin. The music gives off a free vibe, like Josephine Baker, for their dance looks choreographed and improvised. I think during this time music started to slow dance, and it was not as fast of a beat. Another difference, audiences became more integrate. Motown’s co-produce Smokey Robinson said: “I would come to the South in the early days of Motown and the audiences would be segregated. Then they started to get the Motown music and we would go back and the audiences were integrated and the kids were dancing together and holding hands” This shows the increasing respect for African American
He made it able for black performers to perform without being afraid to get judged. He once said “I don’t understand racism. We are all the same and I have the perfect hypothesis to prove it. I play to all those countries and they cry in all the same places in my show. They laugh in the same places. They become hysterical in the same places. They faint in the same places and that’s the perfect hypothesis”. He had a care free attitude that people admire about how he did not care that people judge how he danced or how he dressed. His quote “if fashion says it forbidden I’m going to do it. That is one of the reason he still well known today why today he is still a well-known figure
African-Americans through their history faced the toughest ways of oppression, racial segregation, racism and slavery. Their affliction led to the emergence of the Civil Rights Movement which was one of the biggest social movements in the history of mankind. The legacy of this movement had a powerful impact on the formation of Hip Hop as a subculture, community and subsequently one of the biggest music industry. Hip Hop also plays a very important role in modern culture and society of African-Americans.
In the 1950’s, America was just starting to develop a common culture. Platforms like The Ed Sullivan Show, were uniting Americans while maintaining the conservative values of the time. Many Americans tried to hold onto the lifestyle and values they were so used to, but the times were changing. The number of women in the workforce doubled, African Americans were fighting segregation, and a new teenage culture was developing. Music, rock n’ roll at that time, became a way to make up the differences between Americans. Elvis Presley, a poor southern boy, made major waves by singing what most considered solely race music enticing teenagers and angering disapproving parents. This changed the common culture of the time by breaking down at least some of the barriers between whites and blacks through teenagers love of music.
Ever since its birth in the 1970s in West Bronx, Hip Hop has been known as “Gangsta” music and most commonly associated with black culture. Since its creation it has become a fast growing genre of music and has growing fame all over the world. The popularity of it has increased to all races, age and gender. However the growing popularity of hip hop has come with several controversies among scholars. Some scholars argue that the growing popularity of the genre is very helpful to low income families who can use this as their outlet into going to Universities, on the other side some believe associating the genre to black culture is bad for the culture as a whole and they should not be associated together.
First of all, slaves used elements of medicine and magic from African cultures in their everyday lives by using them whenever they felt a fever coming on or the slaves would use it for protection. Many slaves used magic and medicine for prayer and their way of for healing; treat their illness from their body and soul. Medicine and magic were used when the slaves would get together and do spiritual rituals on their masters. They would also use it as healing power, most of them are leaves, roots and bark. When the slaves would use this remedy it would cause less physical and emotional stress. These elements were also used for healing baths and it controlled the head, body, and dreams. However, the slaves used these remedies to put inside of
African-American pop culture and pop culture in general, may be researched by a lot of researchers but I still get the impression that its roots are badly overlooked. Pop culture isn’t only an entertainment but it has some great depth into it that makes it worth learning the subject. In my thesis, I want to give more attention to the development of the African-American culture throughout all these years from the very beginning. How only one race can make a significant changes, not only in their own nation but in the country they’ve been brought to ruthlessly. It’s amazing how the human race that used to be treated literally like animals, representing the lowest class, benefitted the ones that used them in the past with their creativity
The 24th Annual Sacramento/Black Art of Dance occurred on February 18th-28th, 2016 at the California State University of Sacramento at Solano Hall 1010, home to many of Sacramento State 's Department of Theatre & Dance performances. Sacramento/Black Art of Dance is a modern dance company that follows the footsteps of Katherine Dunham. S/BAD not only carries on the tradition of Black Concert dance in America, but also explores the movement culture of the African and African-American diaspora in the concepts of modern dance. Ancestral Voices, which directed mainly by Linda Goodrich, presented by S/BAD in its 24th year of presenting dance to pay homage to ancestors who have come before us through the language of dance. The concert had two acts
We all know that the power of the Black community in America came from deep in their soul. Their strength and will to fight segregation , and their love can be felt in the civil rights movement. Their ability to express their minds in a non- violent way connects to the soul music that James Brown created. James Brown’s music was a mixture of R&B and gospel. Which in a way connects to what Dr. Martin Luther King was trying to do during the civil rights movement.