Autobiography Of An Ex-Colored Man Themes

MUS 1013 Critical Essay A

Racial relations between African Americans and European Americans in the early 20th century had a substantial impact on the evolution of rock music in America. A prominent example of racial disparity in regard to music is James Weldon Johnson’s “Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man”. This novel portrays the experience of a mixed-race man in the early 1900s, grappling with his race, and facing challenges in society, greatly divided at the time. Johnson’s novel spotlights the cross-cultural synthesis of musical elements as different communities attempted to assert their cultural identity. One of the most prominent musical styles featured in the novel is ragtime, which appeared in the late 19th century as a widespread

When the narrator went back down south and started embracing his African American heritage, he witnessed the horrors that his people had to live through, watching a black man be burned alive. That was a life-changing event for the narrator, causing him to move away and pass as a white man. It seems that the happy and upbeat music made by African Americans at the time was an escape from the harsh reality they had to face in their everyday lives. Jump bands, especially, were music forms where the artist could have fun with the song and tell funny stories. A song that especially embodies the jump style is “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” by Louis Jordan, released in 1946. This song is characterized by a rhythmic swing, catchy lyrics, and a joyful trumpet solo. This song glorifies the life of a poor traveler and turns it into a fun and less serious situation. It signifies and strengthens the argument that much of the happy music made by black people at the time was to break loose from racial tension and

In the mid-20th century, black people were able to express themselves further, leading to many of the creative rock songs of the fifties and onward. The narrator in “The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man” regretted renouncing his race after meeting Shiny years later, seeing what Shiny did for his community, educating young individuals at a black university. He implied that if he didn't choose to pass as white, he would've been able to make a difference for the black community. Other musicians embraced their individuality, with Little Richard giving rock “several of its most characteristic musical features” as per the text. Little Richard had a flamboyant and unique style, nothing that had ever been seen before, especially from a black man. However, his music was very popular, and he introduced many new rhythmic patterns to the genre. Little Richard has been cemented as one of the kings of rock and roll, with many of his songs having a strong drum backbeat and walking