When Delta blues are considered to be "folk music," the genre is inextricably tied to the neocolonial, sharecropping system of cotton production characteristic of the Mississippi Delta region between the Civil War and World War II. "Imperialist nostalgia," then, arises in accounts which pay primary and positive tribute to blues…

The stereotyping of Blacks on television has changed in nature but continues despite the networks' awkward efforts to avoid accusation of racism. Today, situation comedies and detective shows include Blacks in positive roles, but very few portray Blacks as realistically or authentically as Whites are portrayed. (KH)

It is ironic that the barometer of progress for Blacks has been their success in the performing arts. The film industry has historically shaped and reflected racist attitudes toward Blacks, while the popular music industry still segregates and exploits Black artists. (Author/GC)

The works of over 75 communication scholars have consistently traced the markers of communication in African American life. There exists a complex and varied corpus that is necessarily interdisciplinary and multifarious in perspectives and context. The space(s) is theirs to define and, perhaps, to claim. Such studies may reward scholars most when…

Discusses three recent texts dealing with images of African Americans in contemporary art and media, arguing that there is a lack of black critics who can truly fulfill the role of criticism and interpret culture to create popular appeal. Suggests that black critics must interpret art for whites and then re-interpret it for blacks. (BCY)

Most Black memorabilia and collectibles depict distorted, stereotyped images of Blacks, reflecting a past in which racism was directly pervasive, and insidious. Internalization of these symbols and images has made the concept of Black inferiority an inherent and persistent part of American culture, on both conscious and unconscious levels.…

An historical overview of African and Afro-American music, from the foundations in sub-Saharan African music to the music of the 1980s, is presented in this paper as evidence that Afro-American music is closely intertwined with ethnic identification and follows the direction of Afro-American sociopolitical change. Slave and folk music, minstrel…

A short history of black pop music includes artists who have changed pop music or culture and highlights from the 1920s into the 1980s, from Fats Waller to Michael Jackson. In black pop music, there is a direct line of influence from the sharecropper to the current Top 40. (SLD)

Black filmmakers have produced many films that successfully showcase African-American culture, yet this work is rarely exposed to its intended audience. The Black bourgeoisie, because of their money and social status, must play a role in supporting Black filmmaking and fostering the perception of Black film as part of American popular culture. (GC)

In each era in which white jazz musicians have received acclaim, black musicians have been the true innovators. Black jazz musicians of the past and contemporary artists are discussed. Although they may not receive the publicity they deserve, black musicians will continue in the forefront of jazz. (SLD)

Black popular music has its roots in African music that was a way of preserving history. A brief social and cultural history traces black popular music in the United States, focusing on the music blacks listened to, rather than just the music blacks played. (SLD)

Most of what the world envisions of the period of westward expansion in America has been crafted through Hollywood cinema. The myths of the West are so ingrained in America's culture that they have taken on a truth all their own. In a series of recent films, which began with the release of "Boyz N the Hood," Hollywood is at it again, presenting…

The adversarial forces of governmental censorship, freedom of expression, and capitalistic appropriation are engaged in an acrimonious debate over "Gangsta' Rap" that is being played out in the public spaces of popular culture. However, as a literacy of lived experience, Gangsta' Rap warrants critical investigation. Many postmodern…

Building on the author's groundbreaking work in "Building Superheroes," this book traces the influence of a wide-ranging set of "textual toys" from children's lives--church and hip-hop songs, rap music, movies, TV, traditional jump-rope rhymes, the words of professional sports announcers and radio deejays--upon school learning…

The history of women jazz performers and composers, namely African Americans, in the United States is traced from its beginnings to contemporary artists. Women have played an integral role in jazz development. Separate women's festivals showcase many female talents, demonstrating that the future is very promising for women in jazz. (SLD)