Ragtime, Jazz, and Blues

people and Events in African-American history Ragtime, Jazz, and Blues

Ragtime, Jazz, and Blues the names of very few African-Americans were known or appreciated by most whites during the first two decades of the century. African-American baseball players were limited to the rag-tag teams of the Negro League. the name of Jack Johnson was known among boxing fans, but his behavior out- side the ring was unacceptable to most African-Americans and whites. One group of African-Americans, though, was receiving much favorable attention, and white customers lined up to attend its performances in New york, New Orleans, Memphis, and St. Louis. On the stage were African-American musicians, sometimes creating new songs as they played. there were more than songs being born; these were new expressions of the people. This was not the first time African-Americans created music that whites borrowed and took to heart. The spiritual had been the first—the melancholy prayer of the slave begging God to “let my people go.” then they had made up work songs as they labored in the fields, laid railroad tracks, or dug ditches. After the Civil War, military band instruments were in plentiful supply and could be bought for the price of a little labor or cash. there were also make- shift instruments, and musicians strummed on homemade guitars and banjos, played old pianos, blew horns, and beat on drums. the music came not from a book, but from the heart. The main motive was pleasure rather than financial reward or fame, but some managed to find all three. Ragtime became popular around 1900. it was highly syncopated music, usually played on the piano; the left hand played the rhythm, and the right hand played a bright and cheerful melody. the best-known ragtime writer was Scott Joplin, whose fame came from such songs as “the Entertainer” and “Maple Leaf Rag.” it is said that the blues grew out of the songs of the slaves and has a sorrowful sound and message. W.C. handy wore the title of “Father of the Blues,” and two of the most famous blues songs were written by him: “Memphis Blues” and “St. Louis Blues.” the message of the blues is in both the words and the melody: “i feel like running, running way away, Ain’t got nobody, and nowhere to stay.” the best-known blues vocalist was Billie holliday. Jazz was born in New Orleans, with both African and European music as its parents. The first jazz band direc- tor was Joe “King” Oliver, who took a basic melody and improvised from it. Duke Ellington’s and Count Basie’s reputations have long since surpassed Oliver’s. their bands drew international attention. RESULTS: it was through music that slaves expressed themselves, and music was an important way for African-Americans to again express their feelings, and in such a way that others would be influenced by their message. Directions: Complete the following activities, essays, and challenges on your own paper. ork City y wrote his band to New Scott Joplin and Hot Seven by big bands Louis Armstrong with the Hot Five W.C. Handy wrote W.C. developed in New Orleans became popular to Chicago recorded in Chicago recorded Dixieland jazz Jazz moved Duke Ellington moved “The St. Louis Blues” “Maple Leaf Rag” Swing jazz played 1928 1935 1927 1897 1914 Early 1900s 1920s 1925–

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ACTIvITIES: 1. Listen to some spirituals and then to blues, and see if the class finds any similarities or differences between them. 2. Make a list of famous African-American musicians and the style of music they have written or performed.

ESSAyS: 1. how does a person express his or her feelings through music? if you are happy, sad, angry, or lonely, to what type of music do you choose to listen? 2. After listening to some blues, ragtime, or jazz, how do you think it compares to more contemporary music? 3. After reading about an early African-American performer, discuss what kinds of problems African-American performers faced in becoming successful.

CHALLENGES: 1. What were four centers for African-American musicians? 2. What were two earlier music forms created by African-Americans? 3. Where did African-American musicians find instruments they could afford? 4. What was the main motive of these post-Civil War musicians? 5. What instrument was usually used for ragtime? 6. Who was the most important ragtime composer and musician? 7. What were two of the most famous ragtime songs? 8. Who was the “Father of the Blues”? 9. What were two of the most famous blues songs? 10. Who were two of the most famous jazz band directors?

NATIONAL STANDARDS CORRELATIONS: NCSS Ic: (Culture) Explain and give examples of how language, literature, the arts, architecture, other artifacts, traditions, beliefs, values, and behaviors contribute to the development and transmission of culture. NSH Era 7, Standard 3: how the United States changed from the end of World War i to the eve of the Great Depression

WEBSITES: http://128.143.22.16/harlem/contents.html “the Survey Graphic harlem Number,” University of Virginia http://www.scottjoplin.org/biography.htm “A Biography of Scott Joplin: (c.1867–1917),” the Scott Joplin international Ragtime Foundation http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award97/rpbhtml/aasmhome.html “African-American Sheet Music 1850–1920,” the Library of Congress

straightening their hair and bleaching their skin. grounds used by African-Americans. 8. W.E.B. DuBois was a critic of Garvey. Jobs Created by World War II (page 81) 9. Garvey was found guilty of mail fraud in the sale of 1. the United Mine Workers (UMW) had always been Black Star Line stock. open to African-Americans. 10. Garvey served two years in federal prison and was 2. the Congress of industrial Organizations (CiO) had deported to Jamaica. recruited African-Americans from the beginning. 3. hitler would not honor Jesse Owens as an Olympic Ragtime, Jazz, and Blues (page 77) medalist. 1. Four centers were New york, New Orleans, Memphis, 4. Max Schmeling boxed Joe Louis twice. and St. Louis. 5. the initials were NDAC and OpM. 2. two early music forms were spiritual and work 6. the union organized by Randolph was the Brotherhood songs. of Sleeping Car porters. 3. instruments that were used had formerly been Civil 7. Randolph called off the march on Washington. War military band instruments. 8. Roosevelt ordered an end to discrimination in govern- 4. their main motive was enjoyment. ment and defense industries. 5. the piano was usually used for ragtime. 9. the purpose of 8802 was that there would be no dis- 6. the most important ragtime musician was Scott Jop- crimination in defense plants because of “race, creed, lin. color, or national origin.” 7. the two most famous ragtime songs were “the Enter- 10. the Committee on Fair Employment practices inves- tainer” and “the Maple Leaf Rag.” tigated complaints. 8. the “Father of the Blues” was W.C. handy. 9. two famous blues songs were “Memphis Blues” and African-Americans Fight in World War II (page 83) “St. Louis Blues.” 1. there were 5,000. 10. the two most famous jazz band directors were Duke 2. Their first reaction was to pass over African-Ameri- Ellington and Count Basie. cans. 3. The first African-American general was B.O. Davis. The New Deal (page 79) 4. the number sent overseas was 500,000. 1. DePriest’s distinction: He was the first African-Ameri- 5. the number of African-American WACs was 4,000. can to serve in Congress in the twentieth century. 6. African-American pilots were trained at tuskegee. 2. the Supreme Court nominee defeated was John 7. the marines’ experiment was successful. parker. 8. two units were the 761st tank and the 614th tank 3. the hoover victory caused some Republicans to want Destroyer battalions. to appeal to southern whites at the expense of African- 9. they were angry because pOWs were being served, Americans. and African-Americans were not allowed to enter the 4. Depriest was defeated in 1934 by Arthur Miller, an restaurant. African-American Democrat. 10. A major wartime race riot occurred in Detroit. 5. A prominent New Dealer was harold ickes. 6. FDR’s African-American advisors were called the Truman Stands Up for Equality (page 85) “Black Cabinet” or the “Black Brain trust.” 1. the author was Gunnar Myrdal. 7. the agency affecting African-American industrial 2. Myrdal believed that Americans were torn within employment was the National Recovery Act (NRA). themselves over the issue. 8. the program that resulted in forcing African-American 3. truman had clashed with the KKK in the 1920s. sharecroppers out was the Agricultural Adjustment Act 4. the Civil Rights Commission recommended that seg- (AAA). regation be eliminated. 9. the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) employed 5. they recommended to end discrimination in higher edu- young African-American men in conservation. cation and to end segregation in the armed forces. 10. the Works progress Administration (WpA) and the 6. Southern Democrats were angry. public Works Administration (pWA) hired African- 7. After the civil rights plank was adopted, southern Americans for projects and built buildings and play- Democrats walked out.

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