Music has an important role in the African and African American communities. According to our text, African music has traditionally been used to bring people together during things like social settings and community events. Music is used as an avenue of expression in these group settings, and is commonly preformed by a group of professional musicians. Many times, the music would also be accompanied by dance which made whenever it was being preformed, a festive and enjoyable atmosphere. 

The role of African American music, however, has served a bit of a different role historically within the community. Although, like African music, it was also used during celebratory events, and to bring people together, there were times it was used as more of a language. Enslaved people used music to communicate with eachother, and communicate their shared experiences, like the struggles that they went through due to slavery. These songs were most commonly referred to as work songs or spirituals. Music is African American history, I feel, was looked at as more of a necessity to survive.