Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations Graduate Capstone Projects 2018 Hymnody of change: A study of classical African orature in a social justice context Keith L. Royal Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.emich.edu/theses Part of the African American Studies Commons, Music Commons, and the Rhetoric Commons Recommended Citation Royal, Keith L., "Hymnody of change: A study of classical African orature in a social justice context" (2018). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 946. https://commons.emich.edu/theses/946 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Graduate Capstone Projects at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Hymnody of Change: A Study of Classical African Orature in a Social Justice Context by Keith L. Royal Thesis Submitted to the Department of Communication Eastern Michigan University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in Communication Thesis Committee: Keon Pettiway, Ph.D, Chair Ray Quiel, Ph.D Ana Monteiro-Ferreira, Ph.D Doris Fields, Ph.D July 23 , 2018 Ypsilanti, Michigan ii Abstract Communal music has been and is still a prominent method of cultural expression for generations, in particular for the generations of displaced Africans on American soil. The roots of this music, an amalgam of African tradition and a forced Christianity, have remained a constant companion to African American cultural response to inequity.