Other Memorial Day Motifs & Riffs
While the Civil War was clearly about the abolition of slavery, so, also, was the so-called American Revolutionary War about slavery, as well, although this fact is lesser known than that of the Civil War.
The economy was as slave-based, in the North as it was in the South. The South had planters. The North had suppliers, traders, carriers. The abolitionist decision in England's Somerset Case of 1772, which had outlawed slavery on English soil, thus, threatened her slaveholding and slavetrading colonies, hence the rich economies of both regions.
To quote from another authoritative legal context: "Few realized that the redemption song was a duet, motivated at least as much by the hidden party, Harriet [Scott]."
The American Revolution and the Civil War were part of an American wartime medley, as symbolized by Lea Vandervelde 's "duet" analogy from her book, REDEMPTION SONGS : SUING FOR FREEDOM BEFORE DRED SCOTT (2014), p.3.
Neither war won total freedom for the Africans in America, although each one brought the goal closer to ultimate realization , as have all other efforts, be they concerted or solo; whether racial or essential, in character, purpose or mere effect.
Following the "duet" of Dred and Harriet Scott, came the Fisk Jubilee Singers' national and world tours whose lovely renditions of "Negro Spirituals" raised needed money for their humble Nashville college.
Next came Jim Europe 's "Harlem Hell-Fighters'" 369th "jazz" band which wowed the beleaguered people of France in World War I's segregated armed forces. This ardent 'French kiss' forced white Americans to take notice and to claim them as their countrymen, albeit begrudgingly, reluctantly!
Next on the musical and freedom scene was the 'Blues' . It arose from the same black cultural vortex as the "duet," of the Scott's; as the "Negro spirituals" of the Fisk Jubilee Singers; as the "jazz," of Jim Europe. From Robert Johnson to W.C. Handy and all in between, the Blues and its scion, "Boogie Woogie" rocked and rolled its way through World War II in full flight formation with its fellows, "looking for a home, gotta have a home."
Next "rhythm and blues " and gospel music roared into the 1950s out of Detroit , "Motown," Chicago, Memphis, Philadelphia, as well as other cities, and swept the nation and the world with its "wine and wassail." This "race music" fired marchers and freedom riders and boycotters, along side its musical hombres. Other musical forms flowed from it, enriched it, sampled it, and vice versa, in the menagerie.
This Memorial Day weekend, 2016, I pause to pay homage to the "music makers" of whatever motif or instrument, of African American freedom: from the solo of Crispus Attucks, the duet of Dred and Harriet Scott, the rousing spirituals of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the operas of Scott Joplin and anthems of James Weldon and Rosamond Johnson; the Jazz of Jim Europe, Noble Sissel, Duke Ellington ; the Blues of Robert Johnson, W.C. Handy, Lightning Hopkins; the Rhythm and Blues of James Brown, Aretha Franklin , Jackie Wilson, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Curtis Mayfield, Michael Jackson, Prince, and every other musician, rapper, dancer , performer, or soldier, who lifted our spirits, who brought us love, joy, peace, hope, happiness for a while!
Saturday, May 28, 2016
OTHER MEMORIAL DAY MOTIFS AND RIFFS
Other Memorial Day Motifs & Riffs
While the Civil War was clearly about the abolition of slavery, so, also, was the so-called American Revolutionary War about slavery, as well, although this fact is lesser known than that of the Civil War.
The economy was as slave-based, in the North as it was in the South. The South had planters. The North had suppliers, traders, carriers. The abolitionist decision in England's Somerset Case of 1772, which had outlawed slavery on English soil, thus, threatened her slaveholding and slavetrading colonies, hence the rich economies of both regions.
To quote from another authoritative legal context: "Few realized that the redemption song was a duet, motivated at least as much by the hidden party, Harriet [Scott]."
The American Revolution and the Civil War were part of an American wartime medley, as symbolized by Lea Vandervelde 's "duet" analogy from her book, REDEMPTION SONGS : SUING FOR FREEDOM BEFORE DRED SCOTT (2014), p.3.
Neither war won total freedom for the Africans in America, although each one brought the goal closer to ultimate realization , as have all other efforts, be they concerted or solo; whether racial or essential, in character, purpose or mere effect.
Following the "duet" of Dred and Harriet Scott, came the Fisk Jubilee Singers' national and world tours whose lovely renditions of "Negro Spirituals" raised needed money for their humble Nashville college.
Next came Jim Europe 's "Harlem Hell-Fighters'" 369th "jazz" band which wowed the beleaguered people of France in World War I's segregated armed forces. This ardent 'French kiss' forced white Americans to take notice and to claim them as their countrymen, albeit begrudgingly, reluctantly!
Next on the musical and freedom scene was the 'Blues' . It arose from the same black cultural vortex as the "duet," of the Scott's; as the "Negro spirituals" of the Fisk Jubilee Singers; as the "jazz," of Jim Europe. From Robert Johnson to W.C. Handy and all in between, the Blues and its scion, "Boogie Woogie" rocked and rolled its way through World War II in full flight formation with its fellows, "looking for a home, gotta have a home."
Next "rhythm and blues " and gospel music roared into the 1950s out of Detroit , "Motown," Chicago, Memphis, Philadelphia, as well as other cities, and swept the nation and the world with its "wine and wassail." This "race music" fired marchers and freedom riders and boycotters, along side its musical hombres. Other musical forms flowed from it, enriched it, sampled it, and vice versa, in the menagerie.
This Memorial Day weekend, 2016, I pause to pay homage to the "music makers" of whatever motif or instrument, of African American freedom: from the solo of Crispus Attucks, the duet of Dred and Harriet Scott, the rousing spirituals of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the operas of Scott Joplin and anthems of James Weldon and Rosamond Johnson; the Jazz of Jim Europe, Noble Sissel, Duke Ellington ; the Blues of Robert Johnson, W.C. Handy, Lightning Hopkins; the Rhythm and Blues of James Brown, Aretha Franklin , Jackie Wilson, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Curtis Mayfield, Michael Jackson, Prince, and every other musician, rapper, dancer , performer, or soldier, who lifted our spirits, who brought us love, joy, peace, hope, happiness for a while!
