SS-410 The African Diaspora and the Making of American Music

3 Credits

This course focuses on the relationship between the African diaspora in the United States and the emergence and development of distinctively American musical styles. In particular, this course examines the Great Migration of 6 million Black Americans from the rural south to urban centers across the country and the formation of iconic twentieth-century musical forms ranging from the Blues, jazz, gospel, and R&B to rock, soul, Motown, funk, and hip hop. It examines the musical influence of Black communities and cultural forms in a range of cities, including New York, Detroit, Chicago, Memphis, and more.