Black music has always soundtracked, reflected, and reshaped the history of the United States. This course will examine that relationship, centering on music’s central role in the experiences of African Americans from the era of enslavement through modern struggles for freedom and justice. We’ll think about key artists, styles, movements, and innovations, from West African sounds to hip-hop and beyond. We’ll also think about key historical contexts from across eras as we examine what Black music can teach us about larger questions of culture, politics, economics, and identity. And we’ll use a variety of sources, including lots of music, to think about how understanding Black music can reshape our larger ways of thinking and working historically.
HIST 246 Black Music and American History
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