CULTURAL PRESERVATION & EXPRESSION

Cultural Preservation and Expression of the

African Americans through Music

Marissa Goodall

Global Connections

Instructor: Gregory Falls

December 8th, 2017

Table of Contents

Abstract 2

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Limitations Error! Bookmark not defined.

Bias 4

Literary Review 4

Discussion 6

Slavery 6

Spirituals 8

Blues 10

Jazz: The Harlem Renaissance 11

Conclusion 12

References 13

Abstract

This paper highlights the integral role music has played in preserving and enhancing

African American culture and self-expression. From the beginning of their arrival on

this continent, African Americans have used music as a means to voice their concerns

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and to speak up against the discrimination and prejudice so many experienced and

continue to experience. This paper discusses why music is an effective tool for cultural

preservation and expression, provides examples from three music genres deeply rooted

in the experience of African Americans, how music is a vehicle for social change, and

shows how this rich cultural heritage has become a part of the American music

experience

Keywords: African Americans, music, culture, preservation, expression, black

experience, disenfranchisement, slavery, spirituals, blues, jazz

Limitations

Documentation

The evolution of African American music has been documented heavily.

However, historical documents and analyses cannot account for every instance of

African music in today’s culture, as much has been lost as a result of slavery. Therefore,

the author will try to include many known examples and explanations that are widely

accepted form the genres of Spiritual, Jazz and Blues.

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Time

African music is an integral part of today’s American music experience; this infusion of

Africa culture developed over nearly four centuries. The author cannot place a specific

date for each transformation as it developed over time. Therefore, the author can only

estimate the time periods and settings of these changes through research and widely

accepted theories.

Bias

Identity

The author identifies as a descendant of the African Americans through her

African American and Haitian lineage. If the research heavily addresses these two

cultures, it is because of the author’s personal experience. Although the author identifies

closely with these cultures, every effort is made to embrace a larger “American”

perspective.

Literary Review

The following sources have been chosen to support the claims made regarding

self-expression and preservation of African American culture through music. These

sources continue the conversation about African Americans’ use of music, and its impact

on America musical culture and civil rights.

It is appropriate to start at the birth of African Americans: slavery. Forced from

homes into a life of inhuman servitude, the slaves of the Americas were hopeless in their

new realities. Left with no way to communicate or assemble, slaves turned to music to

preserve what was left of their culture. These forms of music, such as voodoo drumming

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and Negro Spirituals, vary amongst the different regions yet still inspire hope. The lyrics

in particular are a major facet of inspiration and hope.

In the case of African American Spirituals or the “Songs Of Sorrow”, the lyrics

pertained to social, political, and theological themes. According to Marvin Curtis in his

article “The Lyric of the African-American Spiritual: The Meaning behind the Words”,

Spirituals focused on the Old Testament in which stories focused on “God’s involvement

in the liberation of an oppressed people.” (Curtis, 16). Many of the words of these

spirituals were often a metaphor for the daily tribulations of slaves who also were an

oppressed people seeking the guidance of a greater force because their earthly life was so

difficult.

What makes these Spirituals unique is the blending of Biblical concepts with

traditional African music which stresses participation in what is known as “call and

response” in which “a melody sung by one singer is responded to or echoed by one or

more singers.” (Dictionary.com) . However, oppression wasn’t the only metaphoric

meaning behind the lyrics. Some of the lyrics spoke of planned escapes and foretold the

religious consequences of their masters. “You can say publicly in song what you cannot

say privately to a man's face." Alan Merriam states in “African Music in Perspective”

(Merriam 1982). Inherently, religious lyrics had to be cryptic as slaves often sang

Spirituals in the presence of their overseers. Right from the beginning of their time in

America, music became one of their only means of self-expression and communication

among themselves.

Introduction

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During slavery, African Americans were forced to adopt the different religions,

languages, and customs of the dominant white culture of their masters. Separated from

their families and unable to bring any items from their homeland for many generations,

they were faced with the deep trauma of loss. However, despite being forced to

assimilate, they managed to cling to aspects of their ancestral culture and forms of self-

expression. Despite their best efforts to erase their tribal culture, slave masters were

unable to control their slaves’ unique connection to music. After almost three hundred

years, African Americans have mastered the art of preserving their culture through their

music.

Discussion

Slavery
African Americans were born out of the inhumane practice of slavery in the

Americas. The Atlantic Slave Trade in the Americas began in the early 17th century. At

its zenith, 12.5 million slaves were transported via Atlantic slave ships in order to satisfy

the need for cheap, bountiful labor. Only 11 million men, women, and children would

survive the harsh journey to the Americas. The majority of these Africans arrived in

Brazil to work the sugar plantation, a lucrative crop during this era. Other plantation

crops included tobacco, rice, coffee, cocoa, rum, molasses, and cotton etc. These crops

were then shipped across the Atlantic to Europe which made exotic goods accessible to

the public. Soon, these products promoted political and economic growth in European

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countries such as Spain, France, and England as the rare products became European

necessities. Due to the high demand for slaves needed to cultivate the crops, trading

companies came into existence such as the Britain’s Royal African Company and the

Dutch West India Company. Mostly known for services such as construction of major

ports, financing, insuring, and trading companies also organized slave ships and their

cargoes.

Although these countries and their colonies greatly benefited from their efforts,

slaves were never compensated or recognized. The treatment of slaves was brutal,

simply put. From the time they were captured to the moment they died, slaves were

faced with unfathomable tribulations throughout their lifetimes. The conditions on the

slave ships during what is known as the Middle Passage, were filthy. They were often

filled beyond capacity and slaves were forced to sit the entire four to twelve week

journey. This meant that slaves had to relieve themselves where they sat. Because they

were underfed and held in a confined area covered in bodily waste, disease was rampant

and took the lives of 25 [percent] of slaves. Illnesses such as gastrointestinal and skin

infections and scurvy killed most of the slaves. The journey was especially difficult for

women as they were subjected to sexual abuse and experienced menstruation and

pregnancy in unsatisfactory conditions.

In addition to the physical abuse they suffered, slaves were put through a

torturous process called “seasoning” in the Caribbean where they were psychologically

conditioned to believe in Western ideals and removed from their African culture. The

abuse continued when they arrived at their perspective plantations. Masters and

mistresses had their slaves whipped by overseers, used a contraption called a bit (iron

muzzle) to prevent eating or drinking as punishment, branded them with scalding hot

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iron, and sexually abused them amongst other horrendous practices. African Americans

lived under these dire circumstances for their entire lifetime, and this cycle would

continue for generations. Slavery reduced Africans; they were treated as object and

stripped of their humanity. (

Perhaps the most mournful aspect of their bondage was their seemingly lost

culture. No longer were slaves allowed to play their drums, sing traditional songs in

their native tongue, or dance to their unique rhythms in the presence of their white

owners. One of the ways their masters controlled them was to make sure they were

isolated on their plantations and unable to connect with other slaves. However, Africans

were and still are resilient, adaptable people. Therefore, in the midst of great adversity

at every turn, slaves were able to preserve various African cultures through music.

Today, music of African Americans has evolved into a plethora of genres that are

celebrated all of the world. The plight of these brave people has influenced pop music

and culture tremendously unbeknownst to most listeners.

Spirituals

One of the prime forms of slave indoctrination was Christianity. Slaves were

forced to comply with their new Christian identity which included taking Christian

names and attending church. Some white slave owners allowed slaves to attend church

with them but limited slaves’ participation in the conservative service. During these

services, preachers grossly used religion to instill obedience in slaves. In an interview by

Samuel S. Taylor, former slave Lucretia Alexander said, “He’d [preacher] just say, ‘Serve

your masters. Don’t steal your master’s turkey. Don’t steal your master’s chickens. Don’t

steal your master’s hawgs. Don’t steal your master’s meat. Do whatsoeever your master

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tells you to do.’” (Taylor ). Other slave owners didn’t see the purpose of allowing slaves

to attend church because they “refused to believe that Negroes had souls.” (Raboteau,

1992). Nonetheless, slaves generally converted to Christianity and secretly incorporated

African culture. Ironically, in later years the church became a major force in securing

their ultimate emancipation.

The importance of music and dance are vital parts of worship in West African

culture. Once slaves became Christianized, music and dance continued to be an

important part of worship. Out of this, a genre of music called Spirituals was created.

Spirituals grew from “ring shout”, a form of circular dancing and chanting which

originated among early plantation slaves. Ring shout evolved into “call and response” in

which a leader improvises “a line of text and a chorus of singers providing a solid refrain

in unison.” (Library of Congress). Spirituals reflected Bible “characters, themes, and

lessons” (Raboteau, 1992) that slaves especially related to. In fact, Spirituals were a

direct commentary of the physical and mental tribulations that slaves faced daily. The

music expressed their faithful hope in “moving, immediate, colloquial, and, often,

magnificently dramatic terms.” (Raboteau 1992) atop of “complex polyrhythms still

found in African music.” (Brooks et al).

Often, the lyrics of Spirituals were codes for escape plans. For example, the

spiritual “Go down, Moses” was used by Harriet Tubman to identify herself to slaves

who wanted to go north. “Swing low, Swing Chariot” was also code for the Underground

Railroad. The “Jordan River” represented the Ohio River which bordered free states. “A

band of angels” were actually Underground Railroad conductors (The William Still

Story). The creativity and resilience of these people insured their survival.

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Spirituals have also been used for advancement of African Americans. Groups

like the Hampton Singers of Hampton Institute (Hampton University) and the Jubilee

Singers of Fisk University sang Spirituals in different concert halls across the country

and internationally which led to its global popularity. (...)Even though they were forced

to conform to Christianity, slaves incorporated the polyphonic rhythms of their

ancestors to worship. In addition, the lyrics possesed a hidden duality that critiqued the

institution of slavery, sending word of freedom and hope. Clearly, the creativity and

resilience of these people insured their survival.

Blues

The Blues reflects various aspects of the black experience in America including

“injustice, lost love, and longings for a better life, jobs or money.” (Feeling the Spirit).

The Blues emerged in the deep south of the United States, particularly Georgia, the

Carolinas, Texas, and Mississippi. Blues music has considerably influenced the

evolution of popular music in the United States, specifically Rock and Roll. Artists such

as Elvis Presley were inspired by the genre and implemented Blues techniques in their

music. Popular genres like Rhythms and Blues [R&B] and Soul were born out of the

Blues.

Like its predecessors, Blues music is very lyrical and perhaps more expressive as

it is known for “ capturing the spectrum of emotions” (Shmoop Editorial Team) through

microtonal pitch inflections, syncopation, melisma etc. Although Blues lyrics spoke of

different aspects of life, it continued to critique the societal hardships of African

Americans. Slavery was abolished, but there was still rampant violence and oppression

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in the form of Jim Crow Laws which promoted segregation and furthered the

disenfranchisement of the African Americans in America (Jim Crow Laws). Jim Crow

Laws affected the daily life of African Americans. From restaurants and school to water

fountains and buses, African Americans were segregated in order to continue the

“enforced racial order” (Sambol-Tosco).

At this point in African American history, using music to express thoughts about

society became a part of the culture. Therefore, it was natural for black musicians post-

Civil War to use music such as the Blues as an outlet to speak out against injustices like

Jim Crow Laws.

Jazz: The Harlem Renaissance

Jazz and Blues developed simultaneously and are somewhat interdependent.

Both genres use traditional music forms such as call and response. They also formed

approximately during the same time period, the 1920s. However, the Blues became

most popular during the 1930s and 1940s and is mostly associated with the Great

Depression whereas Jazz is usually affiliated with the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz also

expresses a range of emotions, allowing musicians to find their own unique style of

expression, and giving musicians the “freedom to alter and experiment with the music

while playing it--known as improvisation”(Harlem Renaissance).

The Harlem Renaissance was the “blossoming of African American culture,

particularly in the creative arts, and the most influential movement in African American

literary history.” (Britannica). The movement began in Harlem, New York which was

the epicenter of the Great Migration of African Americans from the deep south to the

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urban north in search of job opportunities. Consequently, the movement spread across

the nation and even internationally. The term “renaissance” especially embodied the

movement. Journalist Bryan Brown describes the movement as “ ...a time when black

pride was a new, thrilling sensation--and was even, as one scholar has put it, ‘the rebirth

of a people.’” (Brown)

Creatives, such as writers and musicians, used their medium to promote

celebration of the black experience as they sought to dispel the common school of

thought that black people had “no history or culture” (Brown). In addition, creatives

used their art to draw attention to the disenfranchisement of the black community

caused impart by Jim Crow Laws. Jazz in particular was a popular avenue to further

this message because it resonated with its listeners regardless of race, causing Jazz to

become an internationally acclaimed genre. Therefore, jazz musicians had opportunity

to reach a plethora of individuals. Michelle Ceran, a resident of Harlem states that:

“... Even with the gentrification and the changing demographics of Harlem today,

the opening of places like the Schomburg Library for the Jazz Museum of Harlem keep

the Harlem Renaissance alive.” (M. Ceran, personal communication, December 8, 2017)

This is just one example of how African American music has had a lasting impact

on America musical culture today.

Conclusion

Music is a powerful tool in regards to preserving culture. Spirituals, Blues, and

Jazz history has shown that music is a key tenant of culture and identity. African

Americans today, through genres such as Rap and R&B, continue to embed the same

sentiments and values of their ancestors’ culture and sustain traditional forms of music.

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Even in the midst of adversity, African Americans consistently found utilized music to

protest their mistreatment in America and in today’s culture, this trend has continued to

be a generational release amongst 21st century black musicians.

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