MUS 236: The Power of African American Spirituals

                                                   As part of my Centre Term class, I had the opportunity to visit three incredible museums dedicated to African American history and culture. We first visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH followed by the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, TN. We finished with a trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC.  Through this experience, I was able to learn and reflect on the struggles and successes of African Americans throughout history.  Discovering the Stories of Freedom "From Slavery to Freedom  exhibit portrays three centuries of slavery from its introduction into the Americas to its abolition at the end of the American Civil War."            The quilts images are symbols of ...

What can we learn today from looking at  Rev. Dr.  Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life?       Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Civil Rights Movement leader who was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the son of a Baptist minister and was raised in a religious family. He attended segregated public schools in Georgia and later attended Morehouse College, where he earned a degree in sociology. He then went on to study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and Boston University, where he earned a doctorate in systematic theology.       His notorious "I have a Dream" speech contains the iconic quote, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."  Martin Luther King Jr.'s notorious "I Have a Dream" speech is one of the most powerful and influential speeches of all time. His words, "I hav...

  First Lady of Opera "Opera is no longer a luxury, Opera is a vital necessity. It belongs to the people. We all must move and keep moving."  -  Mary Cardwell Dawson     Mary Cardwell Dawson (1894-1962) was an African American opera singer, composer, and music educator who is best known for founding the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC) in 1941. She was born in Madison, North Carolina, and began her musical training at the age of five. She studied at the Pittsburgh Musical Institute and the New England Conservatory of Music, and later taught music in the Pittsburgh Public Schools. In the 1920s, Dawson began performing in concerts and recitals, and she was the first African American to perform at the White House in 1927. She also performed with the National Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.         At a time when it was very difficult for a Black person to pursue any form of music, here you have a Black woman who bu...

Music has often been referred to as the language that has no "boundaries." It travels across countries, languages, cultures, and generations. You don't need to know how to write, read, or play music in order to enjoy it! While music can inspire groups of people from various cultural backgrounds, it's particularly divided along racial lines in its genres, histories, and teachings. The role of appropriation in music is not always clearly defined, but we need to be able to recognize when there are problems and exploitations of cultures in music. What is Cultural Appropriation? Susan Scafidi, the author of Who Owns Culture? Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law , gives this definition:  "Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else's culture without permission. This can include unauthorized use of another culture's dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, reli...

#BlackLivesMatter: The "Spiritual" Revolution Music has always been a powerful tool for social and political movements, and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement is no exception! Over the last 150 years, we have seen how spirituals, jazz, and rock-n-roll have all been used to influence and reflect the social and political movements of their time. In recent years, the Black Lives Matter movement has grown to become a powerful force for social justice in the United States. Taking inspiration from the African American spirituals of the past, many modern songs have emerged in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.  A Different Type of Spiritual: The Modern Spiritual The term “spiritual” has been used to describe traditional folksong music for centuries, but in recent years, the term has taken on a much broader meaning. It is now used to describe a wide range of music, from gospel to hip-hop, and from jazz to rock. According to   Rolling Stone , the anthems of the Black Lives...

What Is The Harlem Renaissance? The Harlem Renaissance is a crucial part of American history that cannot be overlooked! This “artistic explosion” brought a wave of creative expression and works of literature, art, music, and dance from the African American community. This period was a true testament to African Americans' resilience, strength, and determination during a time of oppression, one that paved the way for generations of African Americans to come.  The Harlem Renaissance  served as a platform for powerful messages and artwork of black life, and its reverberations can be found in today’s culture.  Come along and join me as we journey through the Harlem Renaissance and discover the beauty and power of this remarkable period in American history! Visual Arts— Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller  “My work is of the soul, rather than the figure, and sometimes the figure must be very crude in order to carry the full strength of the spiritual meaning.” - Meta Vaux Warrick Full...

     Hello everyone! My name is Rebecca Fakunle, and I am from Louisville, Kentucky. I'm a sophomore studying Behavioral Neuroscience with aspirations of one day becoming a Medical Doctor. I have 1 older brother and 2 younger sisters. I am passionate about healthcare and technology because of the potential they have to make the world a better place. In my free time, I like to read, sing/listen to music, and exercise. I also love exploring new cultures and traveling.  Fun Fact: I was part of a research team that was exploring the role of octopamine in female Drosophila mating behaviors and ovarian germline stem cells.     For this  term, I am most excited about the off-campus activities that I will have the opportunity to participate in because I believe that being in the presence of spirituals will be an enlightening and enriching experience. I consider myself to have a pretty good background with spirituals and music in general because...