African Americans and popular culture
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
African Americans and popular culture
Praeger
- : [set]
Description and Table of Contents
Description
The African American influence on popular culture is among the most sweeping and lasting this country has seen. Despite a history of institutionalized racism, black artists, entertainers, and entrepreneurs have had enormous impact on American popular culture. Pioneers such as Oscar Michaeux, Paul Robeson, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Langston Hughes, Bill Bojangles Robinson, and Bessie Smith paved the way for Jackie Robinson, Nina Simone, James Baldwin, Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Sidney Poitier, and Bill Cosby, who in turn opened the door for Spike Lee, Dave Chappelle, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Tiger Woods, and Michael Jordan. Today, hip hop is the most powerful element of youth culture; white teenagers outnumber blacks as purchasers of rap music; black-themed movies are regularly successful at the box office, and black writers have been anthologized and canonized right alongside white ones. Though there are still many more miles to travel and much to overcome, this three-volume set considers the multifaceted influence of African Americans on popular culture, and sheds new light on the ways in which African American culture has come to be a fundamental and lasting part of America itself.
To articulate the momentous impact African American popular culture has had upon the fabric of American society, these three volumes provide analyses from academics and experts across the country. They provide the most reliable, accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive treatment of key topics, works, and themes in African American popular culture for a new generation of readers. The scope of the project is vast, including: popular historical movements like the Harlem Renaissance; the legacy of African American comedy; African Americans and the Olympics; African Americans and rock 'n roll; more contemporary articulations such as hip hop culture and black urban cinema; and much more. One goal of the project is to recuperate histories that have been perhaps forgotten or obscured to mainstream audiences and to demonstrate how African Americans are not only integral to American culture, but how they have always been purveyors of popular culture.
Table of Contents
- Volume 1: Theater, Film, and Television Introduction 1. The Politics of Representation in African American Theater and Drama Brandi Wilkins Catanese 2. Silent Cinema Daniel Bernardi 3. Early African American Pioneers in Independent Cinema: From Humor as Camouflage to Provocation as Revelation Charlene Regester 4. Women in Film Ingrid Banks 5. Urban Cinema Paula Massood 6. Contemporary Independent Filmmakers Terri Francis 7. Television and Civil Rights Aniko Bodroghkozy 8. Racism and Television Victoria Johnson 9. Stereotypes/ Leading Roles in African American Television Angela Nelson 10. Sitcoms Bambi Haggins 11. Mainstream African American Cinema Wendy Sung 12. Oprah's Influence on Pop Culture Gladys L. Knight About the Editor and Contributors Volume 2: Sports Introduction 1. Black Female Athletes Angie-Marie Hancock 2. Pavement, Prejudice, and Perseverance: The Integration of African Americans in College Basketball Brandon Martin 3. A Dream Deferred: African Americans in Baseball Robert Nowatzki 4. Golf Marvin P. Dawkins and A. C. Tellison Jr. 5. African Americans and Sports Television: Symbols and Signs
- Dollars, Decay, and Dysfunctionality David Leonard 6. NBA Sanford Richmond 7. NFL Quarterbacks Brandon E. Martin 8. NFL Keith Harrison 9. Olympics and Civil Rights Dave Zirin 10. Tennis Cecil Harris 11. Boxing Brandon E. Martin & Dennis A. Kramer II About the Editor and Contributors Volume 3: Music and Popular Art Introduction 1. Black Radio Stations and the Community Carmen Manning-Miller 2. Church/Gospel Music Milmon Harrison 3. Rock n Roll Maureen E. Mahon 4. Hip Hop Moguls Christopher Holmes Smith 5. The Roots and Aesthetic Foundation of Hip Hop Culture Cheryl Keyes 6. The Blues Don Cusic 7. Jazz Ron McCurdy 8. Comic Books and Superheroes Keith Booker and Terrence Tucker 9. Stand-Up Comedy Leon Rappoport About the Editor and Contributors
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