Tyajah Response
Hello Tyajah, I really enjoyed reading your discussion. I agree that there are several similarities between the way of expression of Africans during slavery and the African Americans during the post-civil war. Son House, a 20th-century artist, is one of the many African Americans who used rhythmic sophistication, improvision, and ‘call and response’ as a way of expression. His performance, “Death Letter Blues,” is a Blues song that applies the elements, ‘call and response’ and rhythmic sophistication as a way of expressing his emotions to his audience. His signature use of his voice and guitar is also one of the main ways to express his emotions to his audience. Fisk jubilee singers are one of the early groups to share African music to the world through their tour performances despite facing prejudices bestowed upon the African Americans during that time. I agree with you that Africans are still not completely free from racial discrimination by the ‘White man.’ It is sad to learn still that African Americans are still not free from racial stereotypes. It’s also interesting to learn from you that the word ‘mammy’ was a racial and stereotypic word that referred to the ‘black woman.’ Overall, I think you did a great job with your discussion.
Reply to Morgan Johnson
Hi Morgan, I agree with you about the similarities between the African American Oral Tradition expressions and the Post-Civil War Extensions and Variations. It is also agreeable that the similarities are about the elements: Call & response, functional aspects, and rhythmic sophistication. Fisk jubilee singers display rhythmic sophistication through the tone of their voices in their songs. In that sense, I also believe that they could express and relay their message to other African Americans while also entertaining others since their performances allowed African music to be known to the world. It is also true that the Oral expressions of the post-civil war freedman enabled African Americans to survive, resist, and also transcend limitation on freedom. This aspect is displayed through performed ballads such as ‘stackolee’ that was performed by Taj Mahal. The ballad was performed to give hope and a sense of rebellion to the African Americans. I believe that ‘stackolee’ was composed and performed to show African Americans that they can also fight for their freedom by refusing to follow the ‘white man’s rule’ that was, after all, very unfair to them.