Lyrical Protest: Black Music's Struggle Against Discrimination

by Mary Ellison

In this powerful new study Mary Ellison demonstrates the unique role of black music as an articulation of black aspirations and fears, and as a reaction to a range of social, economic, and political realities. She reveals black music as a soundtrack for life in all its complexity. Through a very close examination of lyrics, musical style, and form in black music throughout history, Ellison brings to light a genre of music varied in its intentions and impact; a catalyst for activism and a stimulus for changing attitudes. The book is organized around topical issues and explores such themes as black power, revolution, socialism, black feminism, and world peace.

One of the few books on music and social change to deal specifically with black music, this volume begins by tracing all black music to its African roots. In subsequent chapters, the author illustrates how these roots are evident in the lyrics of black music written in the United States, the West Indies, and West Africa. The book is organized around topical issues and explores such themes as black power, revolution, socialism, black feminism, and world peace. Students and scholars of popular culture, black studies, sociology, and political science will find Lyrical Protest a source of stimulating ideas.

168 pages, Hardcover

First published November 3, 1989