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The Racial Politics of Music and Dance in North American Slavery: A Journey Through Oppression and Resistance

Rodney Parker

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Published in Ring Shout Wheel About: The Racial Politics Of Music And Dance In North American Slavery

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Music and dance have always been integral to human cultures worldwide, serving as powerful tools for expression, communication, and social cohesion. However, in the dark history of North American slavery, these same art forms became instruments of oppression and resistance, embodying the complex and often brutal relationship between enslaved Africans and their white masters.

Ring Shout, Wheel About: The Racial Politics of Music and Dance in North American Slavery

by Katrina Dyonne Thompson

5 out of 5

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This article delves into the racial politics of music and dance during slavery, exploring how these art forms reflected the power dynamics of the plantation system and simultaneously provided enslaved people with a means of self-expression and cultural preservation.

The Oppressive Power of Music

Music played a central role in the daily lives of enslaved people on North American plantations. White slave owners utilized music to exert control and maintain their dominance.

Work Songs: Enslaved workers were forced to sing or hum work songs while performing grueling tasks, such as picking cotton or rowing boats. These songs served multiple purposes. They helped to regulate the pace of work, suppress dissent, and create a sense of communal misery.
Spirituals: While work songs were often somber and oppressive, enslaved people also found solace in spirituals, a genre of religious music that expressed their longing for freedom, hope in God, and resilience in the face of adversity. White masters recognized the spirituals' potential to inspire resistance and often suppressed their performance.
Slave Narratives: Music was an essential component of slave narratives, the firsthand accounts of enslaved individuals. Oral traditions included songs that documented the horrors of slavery and expressed the determination of enslaved people to escape.

Dance as Resistance and Cultural Preservation

Despite the oppressive conditions, dance provided enslaved Africans with a means of resistance and cultural preservation.

Ring Shouts: Ring shouts were participatory dance rituals that combined African and Christian elements. They were often held secretly at night and allowed enslaved people to express themselves freely, communicate with each other, and maintain their cultural traditions.
Patting Juba: Patting juba was a form of body percussion that accompanied ring shouts and other musical performances. It provided a means of self-expression and community building.
Bucking: Bucking was a provocative dance that mocked the authority of white overseers and symbolized the resistance of the enslaved.

The Fight for Freedom

Music and dance played a vital role in the fight for abolition and the pursuit of freedom.

Abolitionist Movement: White abolitionists used spirituals and other slave songs to raise awareness about the horrors of slavery and galvanize support for the cause.
Underground Railroad: Music was also used to signal safe houses and routes along the Underground Railroad, a network of secret paths and safe havens used by enslaved people to escape to freedom.
Emancipation Proclamation: The Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the end of slavery in Confederate-held territories, was met with widespread celebration and the singing of freedom songs throughout the African American community.

Legacy and Influence

The racial politics of music and dance in North American slavery left a lasting legacy on American culture.

Blues and Jazz: The musical traditions born out of slavery evolved into blues and jazz, which became foundational genres of American music and continue to influence contemporary music.
Civil Rights Movement: Music and dance played a central role in the Civil Rights Movement, serving as a rallying point for protesters and a powerful means of expressing the struggle for equality.
Cultural Identity and Empowerment: Music and dance remain central to African American cultural identity and empowerment, providing a sense of continuity and pride in the face of historical oppression.

The racial politics of music and dance in North American slavery is a complex and often painful chapter in American history. Enslaved Africans endured unimaginable oppression through music, but they also found ways to express their resilience, fight for freedom, and preserve their cultural identity. The legacy of this musical and dance heritage continues to shape American culture and inspire generations with its message of hope, resistance, and the indomitable spirit of the human soul.

Ring Shout, Wheel About: The Racial Politics of Music and Dance in North American Slavery

by Katrina Dyonne Thompson

5 out of 5