Unit 7 Introduction

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” The words of Emma Lazarus inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, 1883. The Statue was a gift from France to solidify an alliance after the American Revolution, in hope of an American democracy where freedom and justice would prevail for all mankind...

"Well, Ms. Lazarus, come forth!! Listen here Honey, I sincerely regret to inform you that America apparently misunderstood the assignment. You see, my tempest has been tossed long before you even got here. As a matter of fact, the wretched refused. Yeah, that’s a good word… they just simply refused of its teeming shore. What are you saying? I’m glad you asked! They refused equality! Utterly refuse Justice, and let’s just not go into freedom at this point…. Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin. Brianna!!! Brianna Taylor!!!! Are you there??? Crickets...

So look, that lamp you’ve been holding so high and bright… Chile, I ain’t seen no light!! Not the one you’re lifting anyway. The only lights we saw were police lights illuminating a knee on the neck of George Floyd. And what door are you talking about? Honestly, I’m a bit confused! Oh, I get it!!! We ARE talking about the one Kyle Rittenhouse and George Zimmerman walked clean through, along with all those buffoons that stormed the Capitol Building, right??? Yeah, I’m hip… it must be the one – nothing else makes sense.

And you keep waving a banner, talking about: “The land of the free and the home of the brave…” …expecting me to pledge allegiance to a lie. Well, I’ll take a knee… Just like my great, great grandfather did…. Singing and praying in ways you’ll never comprehend. You best believe it’s something about that not-so-steady beat that kept our weary feet marching, protesting, crying….. and yet, singing…. It’s in the music… the rhythm… it’s in our movement. Stop trying to hear, if you can’t listen!"

This unit will unveil a resilient, cultural movement of Black Americans, endowed by the strength of their ancestors who had plundered centuries before them. In both sacred and secular idioms, Black music of the 21st century embodies the very essence of “Blackness”- The celebration of a culture of people who have the ability and awareness to transform their circumstances of daily life through artistic mediums of expression and release.

Given the notable advancements in computer and music technology, the secular genres of the twenty-first century pay a worthy homage to the genres of funk, disco, rap, R&B and soul. Hip-hop music is a complex weaving of all these genres to include neo-soul. This Black urban, and uniquely artistic expression of hip-hop is more than just a musical genre. It is, in fact, a cultural movement with all its unique outlooks on social, political, economic, and intellectual factors in a yet, divided American society.

Starting with the Fisk Jubilee Singers’ impression upon Queen Victoria, 1872, African American sacred music has been an idol for many countries and continents. Inside, and most importantly, outside of the confines of organized religion, the sacred music of African Americans has made a stalwart impact and influence throughout the world. The soul-sustaining faith of a suppressed people coupled with the cultural ethos of hip-hop in the 21st century, Black religious music takes on the same conversion as hymnody did of gospel music. Therefore, within the contemporary gospel idiom, the music often blurs the lines of secular influences among Black urban gospel trends.