The music that we call the blues emerged in the south in the early twentieth century. An expression of African American experience, the blues touched on everyday hardships and realities. Blues lyrics give us unique insight into the lives of Africans who were brought to the new world and into the lives of their descendants. On this edition of _What's the Word?_, Houston Baker, Jr. talks about the songs of Charlie Patton and the work of novelist Richard Wright, Robert Cantwell shares his vision of the blues as poetry in the lyrics of Robert Johnson, and Angela Y. Davis talks about the 1920s recordings of classic blues women Gertrude "Ma" Rainey and Bessie Smith.
Well-suited to Black History Month.
Fifteen- and thirty-second promos available.
Angela Davis Photo Credit: Michael Jacobson-Hardy
...
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The music that we call the blues emerged in the south in the early twentieth century. An expression of African American experience, the blues touched on everyday hardships and realities. Blues lyrics give us unique insight into the lives of Africans who were brought to the new world and into the lives of their descendants. On this edition of _What's the Word?_, Houston Baker, Jr. talks about the songs of Charlie Patton and the work of novelist Richard Wright, Robert Cantwell shares his vision of the blues as poetry in the lyrics of Robert Johnson, and Angela Y. Davis talks about the 1920s recordings of classic blues women Gertrude "Ma" Rainey and Bessie Smith. Well-suited to Black History Month. Fifteen- and thirty-second promos available. Angela Davis Photo Credit: Michael Jacobson-Hardy ...
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Originally fed on May 17, 2001
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Dmae Roberts
Posted on September 30, 2005 at 09:35 AM | Permalink
Review of What's the Word? The Blues as Literature
The opening collage of voices with Blues music underneath really grabbed my attention. The continued interweaving of scholars and music makes for an intriguing half hour devoted to discussing African American Blues music as literature. The most fascinating part of the discussion is how the Blues developed and the fact that it's specifically created to rid one of the blues rather than dwell on it. " What's the Word" is developing into a well-polished and enjoyable series. This particular program would work incredibly well during Black History Month though I personally could hear it anytime.