African Americans influenced Memphis Blues by African field songs that they would sing while working in the fields. The West African slaves worked in the cotton fields while singing these songs that soon became part of the musical vocabulary of the Memphis Blues. Beale street has a lot of African American history. In the 1860's African Americans were not allowed in any of the places where the white business's were, and they were only allowed via back or side entrances. Once they did get inside they had to wait until all of the white customers were served before they were. African Americans started to shop on Beale Street, so many whites left. Beale became the place for African American politics. In the 20th century Beale became the center of black culture, filled with music clubs and churches. Cynthia Aynilian
In chapter two of her book It Still Moves Lost Songs, Lost Highways the author, Amanda Petrusich, discusses the significant role that African Americans played in order to influence Memphis, primarily Beale Street. Beale Street has a rich history and in the 1860s all African Americans living there were not allowed to visit white businesses downtown. And if they did have permission to enter they had to go through the back door that was known as the black entrance. Once they were inside they had to also wait a long time to be served because whites always got the priority of being served first. But African Americans were determined to fight for equal rights and they wanted to be assembeled together so that is when they started to shop where blacks and jews owned the businesses on Beale Street. That was the time when white European immigrants started to leave Beale Street.
Beale Street was later transformed into an " African American hub" where they got the chance to discuss politics and most importantly to finalize the Civil Rights Movement. Luckily their goal was accomplished when the Yellow Fever epidemic hit Beale Street and caused many whites to leave. African Americans proved that they did not get infected by such disease and that was the time where the Black population in Memphis increased dramatically. The African American music was played all around and when whites tried to mimic it was a huge failure; they could never be as talented as Blacks. In chapter two the author states that " As the twentieth century pulled in, Beale became the epicenter of black southern culture, with music perpetually piping from churches and nightclubs", ( Petrusich 28). African Americans gave Beale Street a shape and taste of their own traditions.
African Americans had a very big impact in the Memphis Blues and even in the area of Beale Street itself. In the 1860s African Americans were treated very poorly in Memphis and because of their skin color were not allowed to enter certain businesses and were given very poor service. Due to this, many African Americans moved in large numbers to Beale Street were Jewish and Black businesses were highly excepted and flourishing.
With the outbreak of Yellow Fever in 1878 a large majority of the white population living on Beale street at the time were either killed or forced to leave. The Blacks however were not shaken at all by the disease and the African American population increased dramatically. Beale street became an epicenter of black southern culture, music coming from churches and night clubs. A huge connection to the birth of the Memphis Blues was the field songs that African Americans would sing. Blacks with their traditions and different cultures helped establish Beale Street to the amazing place it used to be.
In “It Still Moves Lost Songs, Lost Highways, and the Search for the Next American Music, Petrusich talks about the music of Memphis. Memphis was founded in 1819 and located in the southwestern corner of Tennessee and isolated by a hundred-mile radius of rural farmland and Delta flood zone. Memphis had all types of people: rich and poor, rural and urban, and black and white. Because this was the time of segregation most African Americans lived on Beale Street, and it became the epic center of black southern culture and music.
One popular song that significantly altered the course of American music is “Boss Crump Blue. This song was written after the change of Beale Street. Mayoral candidate Boss Cump promised voters he would shine up the city, and had Memphis police close the houses of prostitution and dangerous gambling rings on Beale Street. W.C. Handy wrote the song “Boss Crump Blues” which rediculed Crump’s strict rules and regulations.
African Americans did a lot to influence Memphis blues and Beale Street. At first, they were treated poorly by the whites that lived on Beale, and it was a difficult time for them. They were not waited on until the whites were served first. On Beale Street, their population increased after an outbreak of yellow fever. Martin Luther King Jr. has led a march down the street, that later turned violent. It was for the civil rights movement and it is one of the most historic events in the history of the United States. Their culture was then able to grow and help influence music.
Memphis blues music started in the field. Many slaves started to sing these songs and after many years they could be heard in towns all over Memphis. "African field songs, hollered in conjunction with rhythm of the work, slipped into the city's musical vocabulary and could be heard years later in the birth of Memphis blues" (Petrusich 29). Without Beale street, there would not be as much history and after many years early versions of Memphis blues has survived. Beale Street played a key role in the civil rights movement and without it, blues music that the slave sung probably would not have been heard to a greater audience.
African Americans were a large part of influencing Beale Street. When they were slaves, African Americans sang along while they worked, and the field songs "slipped into the city's musical vocabulary and could be heard years later in the birth of Memphis blues" (Petrusich 29). By the twentieth century, black southern culture became Beale Street's central point. Music flowed from all churches and clubs.
Many whites died in the 1870s from a yellow fever epidemic while more fled from Memphis to get away from the illness. Being less susceptible to the disease, African Americans were barely effected by it. The civil rights movement being finalized transformed Beale to be the center for African American politics.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAfrican Americans influenced Memphis Blues by African field songs that they would sing while working in the fields. The West African slaves worked in the cotton fields while singing these songs that soon became part of the musical vocabulary of the Memphis Blues.
ReplyDeleteBeale street has a lot of African American history. In the 1860's African Americans were not allowed in any of the places where the white business's were, and they were only allowed via back or side entrances. Once they did get inside they had to wait until all of the white customers were served before they were. African Americans started to shop on Beale Street, so many whites left. Beale became the place for African American politics. In the 20th century Beale became the center of black culture, filled with music clubs and churches.
Cynthia Aynilian
In chapter two of her book It Still Moves Lost Songs, Lost Highways the author, Amanda Petrusich, discusses the significant role that African Americans played in order to influence Memphis, primarily Beale Street. Beale Street has a rich history and in the 1860s all African Americans living there were not allowed to visit white businesses downtown. And if they did have permission to enter they had to go through the back door that was known as the black entrance. Once they were inside they had to also wait a long time to be served because whites always got the priority of being served first. But African Americans were determined to fight for equal rights and they wanted to be assembeled together so that is when they started to shop where blacks and jews owned the businesses on Beale Street. That was the time when white European immigrants started to leave Beale Street.
ReplyDeleteBeale Street was later transformed into an " African American hub" where they got the chance to discuss politics and most importantly to finalize the Civil Rights Movement. Luckily their goal was accomplished when the Yellow Fever epidemic hit Beale Street and caused many whites to leave. African Americans proved that they did not get infected by such disease and that was the time where the Black population in Memphis increased dramatically. The African American music was played all around and when whites tried to mimic it was a huge failure; they could never be as talented as Blacks. In chapter two the author states that " As the twentieth century pulled in, Beale became the epicenter of black southern culture, with music perpetually piping from churches and nightclubs", ( Petrusich 28). African Americans gave Beale Street a shape and taste of their own traditions.
African Americans had a very big impact in the Memphis Blues and even in the area of Beale Street itself. In the 1860s African Americans were treated very poorly in Memphis and because of their skin color were not allowed to enter certain businesses and were given very poor service. Due to this, many African Americans moved in large numbers to Beale Street were Jewish and Black businesses were highly excepted
ReplyDeleteand flourishing.
With the outbreak of Yellow Fever in 1878 a large majority of the white population living on Beale street at the time were either killed or forced to leave. The Blacks however were not shaken at all by the disease and the African American population increased dramatically. Beale street became an epicenter of black southern culture, music coming from churches and night clubs. A huge connection to the birth of the Memphis Blues was the field songs that African Americans would sing. Blacks with their traditions and different cultures helped establish Beale Street to the amazing place it used to be.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn “It Still Moves Lost Songs, Lost Highways, and the Search for the Next American Music, Petrusich talks about the music of Memphis. Memphis was founded in 1819 and located in the southwestern corner of Tennessee and isolated by a hundred-mile radius of rural farmland and Delta flood zone. Memphis had all types of people: rich and poor, rural and urban, and black and white. Because this was the time of segregation most African Americans lived on Beale Street, and it became the epic center of black southern culture and music.
ReplyDeleteOne popular song that significantly altered the course of American music is “Boss Crump Blue. This song was written after the change of Beale Street. Mayoral candidate Boss Cump promised voters he would shine up the city, and had Memphis police close the houses of prostitution and dangerous gambling rings on Beale Street. W.C. Handy wrote the song “Boss Crump Blues” which rediculed Crump’s strict rules and regulations.
SG
African Americans did a lot to influence Memphis blues and Beale Street. At first, they were treated poorly by the whites that lived on Beale, and it was a difficult time for them. They were not waited on until the whites were served first. On Beale Street, their population increased after an outbreak of yellow fever. Martin Luther King Jr. has led a march down the street, that later turned violent. It was for the civil rights movement and it is one of the most historic events in the history of the United States. Their culture was then able to grow and help influence music.
ReplyDeleteMemphis blues music started in the field. Many slaves started to sing these songs and after many years they could be heard in towns all over Memphis. "African field songs, hollered in conjunction with rhythm of the work, slipped into the city's musical vocabulary and could be heard years later in the birth of Memphis blues" (Petrusich 29). Without Beale street, there would not be as much history and after many years early versions of Memphis blues has survived. Beale Street played a key role in the civil rights movement and without it, blues music that the slave sung probably would not have been heard to a greater audience.
MW
African Americans were a large part of influencing Beale Street. When they were slaves, African Americans sang along while they worked, and the field songs "slipped into the city's musical vocabulary and could be heard years later in the birth of Memphis blues" (Petrusich 29). By the twentieth century, black southern culture became Beale Street's central point. Music flowed from all churches and clubs.
ReplyDeleteMany whites died in the 1870s from a yellow fever epidemic while more fled from Memphis to get away from the illness. Being less susceptible to the disease, African Americans were barely effected by it. The civil rights movement being finalized transformed Beale to be the center for African American politics.