Examines how Spirituals have served as essential touch points for all styles of African-American music, ranging from gospel to classical, and are even frequently samples in hip-hop. Students will study how African American classical composers, including Florence Price, visual artist Aaron David, choreographer Alvin Ailey and American novelist Toni Morrison have utilized spirituals as reference material through direct quotations, themes, variations and performances. By focusing on this musical expression and the strength of human spirit expressed through this music, students will learn how enslaved peoples maintained their dignity, resisted the dehumanizing impact of slavery, and fought to preserve key cultural and linguistic elements even in the midst of the horrible oppression of slavery. Finally, students will examine why Spirituals have played a significant role as vehicles for protest at intermittent points during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries around the world including Russia, Eastern Europe, China and South Africa. Some of today¿s well-known pop artists continue to draw on the spirituals tradition in the creation of new protest songs. Examples include Bob Marley¿s ¿Redemption Song¿ and Bill Bragg¿s ¿Sing their souls back home.¿

Note that this information may change at any time. Please visit the MyBU Student Portal for the most up-to-date course information.