the african american influence on the united states

The African American The African American Influence on the United Influence on the United

StatesStates

World Cultures 8World Cultures 8

InfluencesInfluences

How did African slaves influence the How did African slaves influence the United States?United States?

What areas were influenced?What areas were influenced? How were they influenced?How were they influenced?

GovernmentGovernment

Civil WarCivil War was it just about slavery?was it just about slavery?

Civil WarCivil War

was aboutwas about SlaverySlavery TariffsTariffs ““Manifest Destiny” - ???Manifest Destiny” - ??? State’s rightsState’s rights Divergent world viewsDivergent world views

Manifest Destiny – belief of westward expansion of the U.S. (occupy coast to coast)

Tariff/duty – tax on imports

Civil WarCivil War

Many new ideas from Africa and Europe Many new ideas from Africa and Europe mixed together to create new and unique mixed together to create new and unique ideasideas Art: photographyArt: photography Music – realism + romanticism + folk songsMusic – realism + romanticism + folk songs

Musical BackgroundMusical Background

Africans who were brought to colonial Africans who were brought to colonial America as slaves found themselves in a America as slaves found themselves in a totally alien world. They had been totally alien world. They had been removed from their land, their removed from their land, their possessions, and all that was familiar to possessions, and all that was familiar to them.them.


Although they could not carry with them Although they could not carry with them their drums and other instruments, they their drums and other instruments, they did bring a most important instrument – did bring a most important instrument – the human body. Thus, they had voices the human body. Thus, they had voices with which to sing; they had hands and with which to sing; they had hands and feet with which to create percussive feet with which to create percussive sounds and rhythmic movement.sounds and rhythmic movement.


Slaves who were not allowed to talk Slaves who were not allowed to talk among themselves often communicated among themselves often communicated through song. Music became an through song. Music became an important means of adapting to a new important means of adapting to a new language, a new religion, and a totally language, a new religion, and a totally foreign way of life.foreign way of life.


Black people continued to pour out their Black people continued to pour out their innermost feelings through music, as innermost feelings through music, as they and their ancestors had done for they and their ancestors had done for centuries in Africa. And as they did so in centuries in Africa. And as they did so in this new world, some completely new this new world, some completely new kinds of music began to emerge.kinds of music began to emerge.

MusicMusic polyrhythmpolyrhythm call-and-response – 1 person does call-and-response – 1 person does

something and another person “responds”something and another person “responds” think “cheerleaders”think “cheerleaders”

new instrumentsnew instruments banjobanjo

BluesBlues JazzJazz RockRock

MusicMusic

RapRap R & BR & B Hip HopHip Hop GospelGospel SpiritualsSpirituals

Field HollersField Hollers

Slaves working in the corn fields or cotton Slaves working in the corn fields or cotton fields often communicated through song fields often communicated through song with calls, “cries,” or “hollers.” Some were with calls, “cries,” or “hollers.” Some were for help; others for water or food. Some for help; others for water or food. Some were signals to others. Some were simply were signals to others. Some were simply expressions of inner feelings of the expressions of inner feelings of the moment. Sometimes the calls were moment. Sometimes the calls were answered, in the African tradition; answered, in the African tradition; sometimes they were not.sometimes they were not.


The calls of the field were usually The calls of the field were usually fragments, or bits of melody. The same fragments, or bits of melody. The same kinds of song fragments were heard in a kinds of song fragments were heard in a new setting after the Civil War, when new setting after the Civil War, when blacks moved to large cities and began to blacks moved to large cities and began to sell goods in the streets. Wares and sell goods in the streets. Wares and services offered by street vendors were services offered by street vendors were many and varied.many and varied.


http://youtu.be/brdpGv_EYCQhttp://youtu.be/brdpGv_EYCQ

BluesBlues

Came before jazzCame before jazz helped “invent” jazzhelped “invent” jazz late 19late 19thth century or 1800’s century or 1800’s came from field/work songscame from field/work songs

also from prison songs/chain gang chantsalso from prison songs/chain gang chants Form of folk musicForm of folk music

came from the people (weren’t really came from the people (weren’t really professional musicians)professional musicians)

Work SongsWork Songs

The work songs of early black Americans The work songs of early black Americans were much like those they had sung in were much like those they had sung in Africa. Most of these early songs were Africa. Most of these early songs were sung by slaves as they worked in the sung by slaves as they worked in the fields.fields.

Work SongsWork Songs After President Lincoln issued the After President Lincoln issued the

Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, blacks Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, blacks began to seek new kinds of jobs. Many who began to seek new kinds of jobs. Many who had been farmers started to work on boats, in had been farmers started to work on boats, in mines, in lumber camps, in factories, and on mines, in lumber camps, in factories, and on railroads. As they worked, new songs were railroads. As they worked, new songs were born. Some of these were sung during work, to born. Some of these were sung during work, to help pass the time, and to coordinate help pass the time, and to coordinate movements. Others were about work and movements. Others were about work and workers. workers.

Work SongsWork Songs

http://youtu.be/7lDlfDtJYF8 (RR) (RR) http://youtu.be/oNrZFC7RgwU (Mt) (Mt)

BluesBlues

The “blues” are musical expressions of a The “blues” are musical expressions of a person’s troubles. While spirituals person’s troubles. While spirituals emphasized the hope of a better life after emphasized the hope of a better life after death, blues deal with the realities of life death, blues deal with the realities of life here on earth.here on earth.

BluesBlues

Blues songs were at first a very personal Blues songs were at first a very personal kind of music, of greatest importance to kind of music, of greatest importance to the singer. After the Civil War, however, the singer. After the Civil War, however, when blacks found themselves in a new when blacks found themselves in a new social and economic situation, the blues social and economic situation, the blues changed and gradually became popular changed and gradually became popular as entertainment.as entertainment.

BluesBlues

listening and repeatinglistening and repeating couldn’t read music!couldn’t read music! oral traditions oral traditions changes it! changes it!

mostly recreationalmostly recreational

BluesBlues

Famous Blues musiciansFamous Blues musicians BB KingBB King Howlin’ Wolf Howlin’ Wolf Muddy WatersMuddy Waters

RagtimeRagtime Part of the African heritage of blacks who Part of the African heritage of blacks who

had been brought to this country as slaves had been brought to this country as slaves was a love of dancing. Dancing during free was a love of dancing. Dancing during free time, at work festivals, or for the time, at work festivals, or for the entertainment of owners was usually entertainment of owners was usually accompanied with clapping and foot-accompanied with clapping and foot-stomping. Gradually blacks made or gained stomping. Gradually blacks made or gained access to fiddles and banjos, which were access to fiddles and banjos, which were added to the accompaniment.added to the accompaniment.

RagtimeRagtime

Following the Civil War, blacks had Following the Civil War, blacks had increasing opportunity to play small increasing opportunity to play small organs and pianos. The music they organs and pianos. The music they began to play was similar to music they began to play was similar to music they had used for dancing on the plantations. had used for dancing on the plantations. It became known as “rag music,” and It became known as “rag music,” and later, “ragtime.” later, “ragtime.”

RagtimeRagtime

http://youtu.be/pMAtL7n_-rchttp://youtu.be/pMAtL7n_-rc

JazzJazz

Jazz was the first music that people Jazz was the first music that people considered truly “American” music. Jazz considered truly “American” music. Jazz has its roots in the blues and ragtime. has its roots in the blues and ragtime.

JazzJazz

Many characteristics of African music are Many characteristics of African music are found in jazz. Among them are call-and-found in jazz. Among them are call-and-response patterns, percussion response patterns, percussion instruments, body-percussion sounds, instruments, body-percussion sounds, cross rhythms, and improvisation.cross rhythms, and improvisation.

JazzJazz

Improvisation is a basic ingredient of Improvisation is a basic ingredient of most jazz. In jazz, the players make up most jazz. In jazz, the players make up the music as they play it. Jazz is not so the music as they play it. Jazz is not so much a kind of music as it is a way of much a kind of music as it is a way of performing music. There are many types performing music. There are many types of jazz.of jazz.

JazzJazz

born around 1900 in New Orleans, Louisianaborn around 1900 in New Orleans, Louisiana 11stst great jazz soloist – Louis Armstrong great jazz soloist – Louis Armstrong Louisiana historyLouisiana history

French territory (European influence) French territory (European influence) Migration of all types of peopleMigration of all types of people Culture of slaveryCulture of slavery

Bands from military marching (Europe) + field Bands from military marching (Europe) + field hollers and blues music = JAZZhollers and blues music = JAZZ +spirituals and rag time+spirituals and rag time

JazzJazz Original style = DixielandOriginal style = Dixieland

folk and orchestral instrumentsfolk and orchestral instruments Trombone, cornet, clarinet, banjo, piano, drumsTrombone, cornet, clarinet, banjo, piano, drums

Call-and-responseCall-and-response

As it became more popular, it changed or As it became more popular, it changed or evolvedevolved new instrumentsnew instruments

guitar, saxophone, bassguitar, saxophone, bass

innovationsinnovations vocalistsvocalists

JazzJazz

Dixieland Dixieland Big Band Big Band Crooners Crooners Bebop Bebop Cool jazz Cool jazz

tradition of experimenting and being tradition of experimenting and being spontaneousspontaneous

Dixieland JazzDixieland Jazz

The early Dixieland band usually had a The early Dixieland band usually had a cornet, trombone, clarinet, banjo, drums, cornet, trombone, clarinet, banjo, drums, and sometimes a tuba. The band often and sometimes a tuba. The band often marched as it played. Later, the marched as it played. Later, the saxophone, trumpet, and piano were saxophone, trumpet, and piano were added.added.

JazzJazz

Charles Mingus –used their music for Charles Mingus –used their music for persuasionpersuasion political issues of his timepolitical issues of his time

Fables of FaubusFables of Faubus – racism and school integration – racism and school integration during Civil Rights movementduring Civil Rights movement

No jazz = No hip-hop, no rap, no rock, No jazz = No hip-hop, no rap, no rock, no Broadway, no Hollywood musicalsno Broadway, no Hollywood musicals

Gospel/SpiritualGospel/Spiritual

Christianity was forced on slaves who Christianity was forced on slaves who were not always Christianwere not always Christian slaves put their own traditions into the new slaves put their own traditions into the new

religionreligion field holler field holler call-and-response call-and-response

Choral traditionChoral tradition Congregational singingCongregational singing

SpiritualsSpirituals

The songs of the early slaves expressed The songs of the early slaves expressed not only their troubles, but also their hope not only their troubles, but also their hope of a better life and death. The music that of a better life and death. The music that developed was a blend of the rhythms developed was a blend of the rhythms and chants brought from Africa, and the and chants brought from Africa, and the European hymn tunes of the whites. The European hymn tunes of the whites. The musical results was a unique kind of musical results was a unique kind of song called the “spiritual.”song called the “spiritual.”


A spiritual is what the name suggests – a A spiritual is what the name suggests – a song that has a religious or “spiritual” song that has a religious or “spiritual” meaning. Although spirituals originated meaning. Although spirituals originated with black people, there are also white with black people, there are also white spirituals. It has been said that the spirituals. It has been said that the spiritual is one of the greatest gifts of spiritual is one of the greatest gifts of black Americans to the world of music.black Americans to the world of music.


http://youtu.be/UEH7jyt1eoo (Whole (Whole World)World)

http://youtu.be/gtLcELU1brA (Ppl go) (Ppl go)

GospelGospel

Gospel songs are religious songs that are Gospel songs are religious songs that are more recent in origin than spirituals. As more recent in origin than spirituals. As black people found themselves in busy, black people found themselves in busy, crowded cities early in the 20crowded cities early in the 20thth century the century the spirituals of earlier days did not seem to spirituals of earlier days did not seem to adequately express the religious feelings adequately express the religious feelings of the times. Gospel music became the of the times. Gospel music became the means of expressing their religious means of expressing their religious feelings.feelings.

Gospel vs. SpiritualGospel vs. Spiritual

GospelGospel Composer generally Composer generally

knownknown Instrumental Instrumental

accompanimentaccompaniment Polyrhythms are commonPolyrhythms are common Melodies are more Melodies are more

complexcomplex Personal expressions of Personal expressions of

today’s black Americanstoday’s black Americans

SpiritualSpiritual Folk songs (handed down Folk songs (handed down

orally from the slavery orally from the slavery era)era)

Usually “a cappella”Usually “a cappella” Strong rhythms but not Strong rhythms but not

overlappingoverlapping Simple melodies (usually)Simple melodies (usually) Usually retelling of biblical Usually retelling of biblical

storiesstories

DanceDance

Latin America + U.S.Latin America + U.S. SalsaSalsa ClaveClave polyrhythmspolyrhythms Bomba (from Puerto Rico) – Call & Bomba (from Puerto Rico) – Call &

ResponseResponse

DanceDance

Tango (from Argentina) – African + Tango (from Argentina) – African + Portuguese originsPortuguese origins

Plantation dancesPlantation dances

Plantation DancePlantation Dance

Plantation Dance - ZudioPlantation Dance - Zudio

http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/afriam.arts.music.zudio/

DramaDrama Oral tradition - ?Oral tradition - ? Creation mythsCreation myths Trickster characters – Anansi, etc.Trickster characters – Anansi, etc. way to bring the culture with them from way to bring the culture with them from

AfricaAfrica

DramaDrama

Slave talesSlave tales cunning charactercunning character outsmarts those who try to take advantage outsmarts those who try to take advantage

of himof him rhythmic languagerhythmic language great animation in the tellinggreat animation in the telling

DramaDrama

Can you see how any of those Can you see how any of those points/ideas have influenced American points/ideas have influenced American drama?drama? TV shows?TV shows? Movies?Movies? Plays?Plays?

Drama – Types of StagesDrama – Types of Stages

Drama – Stage DirectionsDrama – Stage Directions

the african american influence on the united states

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