Elvis Presley's Effect On Race Relations And Popular Teen Culture

How much of an impact can music truly have? Some people believe that when voices are not able to join people together, that music can be used to accomplish that; I think that is what happened during the late 1950s. During the 1950s, music known as “race music” began to be broadcasted. Many white Americans did not listen to the music because it was produced and sung by African Americans. A white producer believed that white people would not listen to the “race music” until there was a white man that could sing those songs in that particular way. In 1956, the famous singer known as Elvis Presley released his first album. He started to grow as a popular artist, and began to change both race relations and popular teen culture. Elvis Presley was included in the History Channel’s 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America video, and I believe that his effect on race relations and popular teen culture was the reason why he was included in the video.

Some white teenagers who liked his music would end up listening to other songs under the “race music” title that were sung by African Americans. White teengaers would also sneek into prodominantly black places where concerts were being held to listen to “race music.” Additionally, Presley had a different sense of fashion than other white artists. He would go into black towns and buy “black” outfits (clothes worn mostly by black people). When he wore those clothes on stage, he would be promoting “black”