230548 Transnational movements and sounds in the Black Americas (S) (WiSe 2019/2020)

The histories of popular music and social movements in the African diaspora of the Americas have always been closely intertwined. In the face of racial exclusion and white supremacy, diverse genres of Black music gave voice to freedom struggles often serving as sources of community pride and platforms for transnational communication between different Afrodescendent groups in the Western hemisphere. Starting in the 1960s and 1970s, when the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements achieved international reputation as vanguards of a global youth rebellion, we will take a look at how these movements were reflected in - and travelled through - music. How did African American Soul and Funk musicians like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Curtis Mayfield become cultural ambassadors who carried the message of the Black revolution beyond borders, inspiring other communities of color in the U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America in their struggles? What was the role of Caribbean genres as Salsa and Reggae for the emergence of border-crossing identity discourses among Afro-diasporic communities across the Americas? In which ways did Hip-Hop become a critical voice of Black youth cultures in the US and other hemispheric contexts in the late 20th and early 21st century? These and other questions will be discussed in a one-week block seminar with ample opportunity to listen to paradigmatic songs, analyze lyrics and learn more about the social realities and movements that inspired them.

Requirements for participation, required level

Participants should be ready to discuss and present specific topics in English.