BlackHistoryMusic

In Celebration of Black American History Month

Slave Songs

Gospel

Jazz

Blues

Rock

Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Teacher Notes: This lesson is inspired by the book, I See the Rhythm by Michele Wood and Toyomi Igus. A beautifully written and illustrated timeline of African American music over the past 500 years. Important American history events are interwoven throughout putting the musical eras into context. Follow the timeline and view video that bring music and history together in celebration of American Black History Month. There are many more CCC! programs that you could include in this lesson. Simply use CCC! Hyperlinks to continue to create this celebration presentation.

To purchase this book, search for: ISBN #0-89239-151-0 Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Click on the background to launch video.

Origins

Griots (storytellers) and priests used music to teach lessons, talk about history and call on the gods.

1740s Early 1500s Slaves are sold to New World.

1630-1656

Early 1619 Queen Nzinga of Angola

First enslaved Africans arrive in Virginia.

leads against Portuguese slave traders.

Historical Timeline

Laws are passed in American Colonies to keep slaves from communicating using drums.

Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Slavery Songs

Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

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Quilts were used to communicate to run away slaves.

Slaves sang religious songs to give them hope that better days would come.

1776

1831

Congress adopts Declaration of Independence. It did not free blacks from slavery.

Nat Turner leads the most famous slave revolt in U.S. History.

1849 Harriet Tubman begins helping slaves escape on the Underground Railroad.

Historical Timeline

1850 The Fugitive Slave Act is passed. It is now illegal to give shelter to runaway slaves.

1861 The Civil War begins.

The Beginning of Blues Click on the background to launch video.

Historical Timeline 1863

1865

1890s

Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation. Slaves are now free but not equal.

1912

The Civil War Ends

Attacks and lynchings result in many blacks and white supporters killed.

The first blues song is published “Memphis Blues” by W.C. Handy.

1872 The Risk Jubilee Singers go on tour.

Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Ragtime Click on the background to launch video.

Historical Timeline 1899 Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” becomes a hit.

1909 The NAACP is formed.

1909 The NAACP is formed.

1914-1020 The Great Migration. Southern black move North for a better life.

JAZZ Click on the Savoy to launch video.

1901 Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong is born in New Orleans.

1914-1918 WWI – almost 400,000 black men serve in the armed forces.

1917: Black Pride

Historical Timeline Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Martin Garvey begins chapter of Universal Negro Improvement Assoc.

Swing Sounds Click on the background to launch video.

1899 Edward Kennedy Ellington (Duke) is born.

1920-1930s The Harlem Renaissance: African Americans are widely recognized for their great writers, artists and musicians.

1934

Historical Timeline

Ella Fitzgerald joins Chick Webb’s band at age 17. Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Be Bop Click on the background to launch video.

Historical Timeline

1939-1945 Over 1 million black men 1948 serve in segregated armed Under pressure, President services. Truman desegregates the armed forces.

1956 Dizzie Gillespie is sent around the world by U.S. State Dept. as the Ambassador of Jazz. Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Gospel Click on the Gospel Choir to launch video.

Historical Timeline 1947 Mahalia Jackson records “Move On Up a Little Higher” which sells 1 million copies.

1954 Landmark Case: Brown versus Board of Education

1955 Rosa Parks takes her rightful seat on the bus.

Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Rhythm and Blues

Historical Timeline 1961 Barry Gordy forms Motown Recording Studio

1963 Martin Luther King Jr. delivers famous speech, “I’ve Got a Dream.”

1964 President Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act outlawing discrimination in housing, employment and education.

1965 Malcolm X is assassinated.

1965 Click here

Aretha Franklin records “RESPECT.” Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

Black Rock and Roll Historical Timeline 1955 Chuck Berry records his first big hit.

1955-1959 Little Richard records a string of hits and becomes known as the King of Rock ‘n Roll.

1968

1969

Dr. Martin Luther King is assassinated.

U.S. puts first man on the moon. Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media

In Celebration of Black American History Month

Slave Songs

Gospel

Jazz

Blues

Rock

Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media