The Sound Track of Slavery

The soundtrack of slavery, the rhythms and sounds of the fields, enriched American culture and helped to form the American identity. The cross-fertilization between Africa and America that came about through the slave trade impacted many areas of American culture, but none more so than the development of new genres of music including jazz, gospel, and above all else, the blues. The blues, which arose deep in the region known as the Mississippi Delta, has helped shape the American identity by providing a distinct sound incorporated into many genres of music and by providing a voice for those that previously had none.
Music helps define culture, and America is no exception. Used to express the thoughts and feelings of the masses, and, sometimes, to influence them, music leaves a lasting impact on all it touches. Genres of music evolve with the growth, creation, and synthesis of various subcultures. For example, the music form known as “the blues” pervades American music, helping to frame jazz, rhythm-and-blues, rock, hip-hop, gospel, pop, and other American musical genres. The blues permeates the soundtrack of movies, TV, and more (Thompson & Haquard, 126-139). It is no exaggeration to say that blues is a staple of the American identity, one whose influence shows no sign of diminishing. As director Martin Scorsese wrote, “The blues have great emotional resonance and are the foundation for American popular music.” (Springer, “Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Film Tribute to America’s Great Musical Tradition.")
The locale where musical sub-genres have evolved is closely related to key features of the music played. The blues originated in the oppressive and destructive experiences of African Americans in the post-emancipat...

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...ongs are playing a strong and vital role in our struggle. They give the people new courage and a sense of unity. I think they keep alive a faith, a radiant hope, in the future, particularly in our most trying hours.”
It is difficult to imagine American culture without the influence of blues. Thousands of hit songs, hundreds of movie sound tracks, and countless performances of all types have been enriched by the music of poor black farmers struggling to survive in the Mississippi Delta. This unique cultural legacy, spawned in the poorest and most segregated corner of America, has shaped the world’s perception of our country. In the blues we can still hear the tragedy of poverty, the work songs of slaves, the rhythms of the Mississippi, and the struggle for survival that formed the culture of the Delta – and that in turn helped form the identity we know as American.¬¬