Yellin
  Assignment 2: The Politics of Recording African American Folk Music
 
 “White folks don’t understand about the blues….You don’t sing to feel better.  You sing ‘cause that’s a way of understanding life….The blues help you get out of bed in the morning.  You get up knowing you ain’t alone.  There’s something else in the world.  Something’s been added by that song.  This be an empty world without the blues.  I take that emptiness and try to fill it up with something.”
              --Ma Rainey, in August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”

Part A

Eyes instead of ears today:

• read Noncommercial Recordings: The 1940s by Bruce Bastin (link located on the "Now What a Time" homepage under the heading “Special Presentations”)

• browse through the Fort Valley State College student newsletter, The Peachite: Festival Number (link in the main paragraph on the "Now What a Time" homepage).

In your weblog, consider the following questions:

• How did African-American intellectuals view the Fort Valley State festivals?  How did their views differ from those of the audience and performers?

• Why did John Work, Lewis Jones, and Willis James record this music?  What were their motives?  What were they trying to preserve?

Part B

Read David Evans' article “Alan Lomax: An Appreciation” in Course Documents.

 In your weblog, consider the following questions:

• The article defends Alan Lomax.  Based on the article, the material on the "Now What a Time" website, and any outside knowledge you have, do you find the article convincing?

• Were Lomax’s motives for recording this music the same as those of John Work, Lewis Jones, and Willis James?  Did they approach the music the same way?

• How did the conditions under which Lomax made his field recordings differ from the conditions at the Fort Valley State festival?

Part C

Some civil rights activists argue that white music producers, musicians, audiences, and folk culture scholars have exploited African-American performers.  Post a response to this claim using material from the "Now What a Time" website,  Evans’ article, and your knowledge of white musicians (from Elvis to Eminem) performing music that originated in African-American communities.
 

Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant shit to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
simple and plain
--Chuck D, “Fight the Power”