So says amiri baraka in the introduction to blues people, his classic work on the place of jazz and blues in american social, musical, economic, and cultural history. Jones approaches this musical genre from a sociological, historical, and political standpoint, starting with the early slave trade in. Jones approaches this musical genre from a sociological, historical, and political standpoint, starting with the early slave trade in america. Negro music in white america by leroi jones and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Thoughtprovoking quotes by amiri baraka for all book lovers. Jones, who later changed his name to amiri baraka, is a poet, author, novelist, playwright, political activist, and pioneer of the black arts movement. Blues people is a classic of african american history. Famous as the founder of black arts movement, his works were mostly belligerent and dealt with racism. Negro music in white america and continued further with different writing pieces for over four decades. See all books authored by amiri baraka, including dutchman and the slave. It is considered a classic work on jazz and blues music in american culture. Baraka opens the book by arguing that africans suffered in america not only. When it comes to africanamerican music and culture, amiri baraka is ranked among the most important commentators of the subject. He was the author of numerous books of poetry and taught at several universities, including the state university of new york at buffalo and the state university of.
From the music of african slaves in the united states through the music scene of the 1960s,baraka traces the influence of what he calls negro music on white america not. If the negro represents, or is symbolic of, something in and about the nature of american culture, this certainly should be revealed by his characteristic music. From the music of african slaves in the united states through the music scene of the 1960s, baraka traces the influence of what he calls negro music on white america not. In some ways blues people is the product of a young writer searching for his own voice in the poetic insights of the music.
Blues people argues that negro musicas amiri baraka calls itappealed to. Negro music in white america has proven an enduring study of black music and its meanings. Blues people is a brilliant and pathbreaking book, not because all of its. After learning that amiri baraka had passed away october 7, 1934 january 9, 2014, i wanted to commemorate him by reading some of his work. Amiri baraka books list of books by author amiri baraka. The book, the first book on jazz by an african american author, offers a compelling and comprehensive narrative based on what he calls the negro experience in white america. Students may study the path from leroi jones and blues people to amiri baraka and digging. He attended rutgers university for two years, then transferred to howard university, where in 1954 he earned his ba in english. What exactly does leroi jones mean by the blues continuum in his book blues people.
Negro music in america leroi amiri baraka jones on. It is a complex book in which he seeks to interpret the course of african american music, in the light of the socioeconomic and racial history from which it emerged. October 7, 1934 january 9, 2014, previously known as leroi jones and imamu amear baraka, was an american writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays and music criticism. With rare clarity and glowing intensity, baraka traces the evolution of black forms such as blues and jazz back to africa, and presents the reader with genuine insight into the world of the creators of these important 20th century art forms. The kaleidoscopic torch, the connection he nailed down between the many faces of black music, the sociological sets that nurtured them, and their symbolic evolutions through socioeconomic changes, in blues people, is his most durable conception, as well as probably the one most indispensable thing. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Barakas blues people harvard university press blog. Theoretical, in that none of the questions it poses can be said to have been answered definitively or for all time, sic. Negro music in white america in 1963, and it is still one of the definitive texts about the blues. Blues people download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. This year 20 the book and its author, leroi jones, now amiri baraka, have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the publication of blues people.
From the music of african slaves in the united states through the music scene of the 1960s. Amiri baraka, born everett leroi jones, was a distinguished africanamerican poet who also wrote essays, music criticism, fiction and drama. Amiri baraka as a social theorist, a speech she delivered in 2004, to remind my students that. Feb 21, 2018 the book documents the effects jazz and blues on american cultural, at musical, economic, and social levels.
Amiri baraka as a social theorist, for barakas insights in blues people on the relationships among music, race, politics, and identity remain fresh today despite the passage of fortyone years since its publication. It chronicles the types of music dating back to the slaves up until the 1960s. This book is probably the greatest ever written on the early history of black music in america. Negro music in white america is a theoretical book exploring the movement of black americans from african slaves to american citizens. Download blues people or read online books in pdf, epub, tuebl, and mobi format. A halfcentury later, amiri barakas book remains the first of its kind. Price new from used from paperback, import, june 30, 2003 please retry. Bluespeople bluespeoplenegromusicinwhiteamericaisaseminalstudyofafroamericanmusicandculturegenerallybyamiribaraka,whopublisheditasleroijones. Negro music in white america by leroi jones, 1963 online research library. A renaissance man who spent over fifty years fusing art and politics, baraka was also a brilliant critic whose blues people.
Blues people leroi jones paperback harpercollins publishers. Amiri baraka as a social theorist, for baraka s insights in blues people on the relationships among music, race, politics, and identity remain fresh today despite the passage of fortyone years since its publication. In blues people baraka explores the possibility that the history of black americans can be traced through the evolution of their music. As music was the most profound artistic expression of this move, baraka analyses each stage of social change through the music it produced. Chicago turabian author date citation style guide baraka, amiri, 19342014. I didnt purchase the book until sometime in the 1990sat least 30 years after. From the music of african slaves in the united states through the music scene of the 1960s, baraka traces the influence of what he calls negro music on white america not only in the context of. In blues people baraka explores the possibility that the history of black. Blues people by leroi jones 1773 words 8 pages in his seminal book, blues people, leroi jones aka amiri baraka indicated that at any given time in history you can tell exactly whats going on in the african american community by listening to their music. By bruna lobato contributor blues people is a classic of african american history. Jul 26, 20 i assign portions of this book in virtually every course i teach, monson wrote in blues people.
Le cercle modernist, afroamericans, civilization, music, geschichte, blues music, jazz, african american. This was shortly followed by a novel, blues people. Negro music in white america by baraka, imamu amiri, 1934publication date 1963 topics. The afroamerican soul of american classical music by way of black music and the music in the middle of that trajectory. Amiri baraka published blues people in the early 1960s when he was still known as leroi jones. Blues people by leroi jones, first edition abebooks. Poet, playwright, activist, and intellectual amiri baraka died yesterday at 79. Negro music in white america by baraka, imamu amiri, 1934publication date 1963 topics african americans, blues music, jazz, african americans publisher new york, w.
This book explains how music was used for the black people to. Dec 28, 20 to this day blues people is considered one of the most influential volumes of jazz criticism ever published. So says amiri baraka in the introduction to blues people, his classic work on. Barakas blues people poet, playwright, activist, and intellectual amiri baraka died yesterday at 79. People claimed that barakas thoughts and work expressed homophobia, bigotry, misogyny and. And i make my analogy through the slave citizens music through the music that is most associated with him. The book explores the place of jazz and blues in american cultural and social history and it.
That work was highlighted in freedom is, freedom aint. Blues people argues that in their art, louis armstrong, blind lemon. Sep 26, 2010 life has since intervened, but after finishing blues people by leroi jones now amiri baraka last night, i am compelled to revive the concept. Leroi jones now known as amiri baraka is the author of numerous books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Negro music in white america by leroi jones, first published in 1963 by william morrow, was the first book on blues written by an africanamerican critic. With regards to music as a subject, be it jazz blues, pop rock or alternative, it helps in realizing the importance of music. Baraka was a young man of 27 when he completed blues people. So says amiri baraka in the introduction to blues people, his classic work on the place of jazz and blues in american social, musical. In his introduction, amiri baraka states that blues people. When leroi jones, or amiri baraka, discusses the blues. Amiri baraka aka leroy jones wrote a book about the move from africa to slavery and from slavery to citizenship, and from african to negro in his words.
Negro music in white america is a seminal study of afroamerican music and culture generally by amiri baraka, who published it as leroi jones in 1963. His exceptional assemblage of writings on music blends the history, autobiography and political opinions to recall the places, times and people he has encountered throughout his life. Jones advises us to approach the blues as a strictly theoretical endeavor. The author has spent nearly half a century narrating.
The era of sixties introduced amiri baraka as an african american writer with his first volume on poetry, preface to a twentyvolume suicide note. From the music of african slaves in the united states through the music scene of the 1960s, baraka traces the influence of what he calls negro music on white america not only in the context of music. So says amiri baraka leroi jones in the introduction to blues people, his classic work on the place of jazz and blues in american social, musical, economic, and cultural history. The emergence of classic blues and the popularization of jazz occurred around the same time, observes amiri baraka in his landmark blues people. Amiri baraka was born leroi jones in 1934 in newark, new jersey, is the author of over 40 books of essays, poems, drama, and music history and criticism, a poet icon and revolutionary political activist who has recited poetry and lectured on cultural and political issues extensively in the usa, the caribbean, africa, and europe. It chronicles the types of music dating back to the slaves up to the 1960s. Blues people and black music it is one of barakas early classics and narrates essays on famous personalities such as max roach, miles davis, john coltrane and charlie parker.
He was the author of numerous books of poetry and taught at several universities, including the state university of new york at. May 20, 2019 open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Negro music in white america is a theoretical book exploring the movement of black americans from african slaves to. From the pdf music of african slaves in the united states through the. Negro music in white america by amiri baraka 1,900 ratings, 4. P181swing had no meaning for blues people nor was it expressive o he emotional life of most young negroes after the war nevertheless by the forties it had submerged all the most impressive acquisitions from afroamerican musical tradition beneath a mass of popular. From the music of african slaves in the united states through the music scene of the 1960s, baraka traces the influence of what he calls negro music on white. Blues people was a book he published in 1963 back when he was still leroi jones and african americans were called negroes.
Questia read the fulltext online edition of blues people. Also, it gives the listeners a sense of belonging by extending knowledge from generation to generation. As music was the most profound artistic expression of this move, baraka analyses each stage of. This book documents the effects jazz and blues had on america on an economic, musical, and social level. That same year, leroi jones a twentysomething, newark, n. The book explores the place of jazz and blues in american. Negro music in white america by baraka, imamu amiri, 1934publication date 1963. Amiri baraka was born everett leroi jones in newark, new jersey, on october 7, 1934. Taking its title from amiri baraka s groundbreaking 1963 book blues people baraka was still leroi jones when the book was published, the album is full of musical guests, from taj mahal to the blind boys of alabama, but none of them capsize the emotional balance of the set, adding to, rather than detracting, from the songs they appear on.
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