Papers > Art > Evolution of African American Art
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Evolution of African American Art
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... One culture that prides itself on oral tradition is African Americans. African American culture is deeply rooted in oral because it is what keeps their culture vibrant. African Americans have innovated the art of oral tradition through different forms; spirituals, gospel, jazz and blues, and hip-hop.
The first form of oral tradition that the African Americans used is spirituals. Spirituals came about in the time of slavery in which African Americans used songs in order to communicate with each other because at that time African Americans were illiterate. These spirituals brought a sense of hope and inspiration to the African American slaves. ... Spirituals served as an outlet for African Americans and it allowed the slaves to sing about the daily struggles; the tribulations of working in the fields and abuse received from their master. Spirituals were a crucial outlet for African Americans during slavery because it enabled them to communicate and it unified them as a community.
The next form of oral traditions that was innovated by African Americans was Gospel. After the abolition of slavery, African Americans used their newfound freedom further their oral traditions. Black Gospel music can “be viewed as a synthesis of West African and Afro-American music, dance, poetry, oratory and drama. ... Gospel music became a powerful outlet for African Americans because they centered the music on Christianity. African Americans identified mostly with Christianity because of the message of hope that Christianity preaches; this sense of hope was a common theme throughout the black gospels. Gospel music was a powerful mode of expression for African Americans and it allowed it African Americans to identify themselves with their religion of Christianity.
As African Americans furthered their oral tradition, they began to develop the music genre of Blues and Jazz.
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Paper Information
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Title: Evolution of African American Art
Words: 1445
Rating: None
Pages: 5.8
submitted by: jdunnam
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