The Evolution of Folk Music and The Appropriation
The Early History of Folk Music
Folk is one of the many products of the transatlantic slave trade in the late 18th century. Since these enslaved individuals came from various African countries, estranged from their loved ones, they had to quickly adjust to this new environment and gradually learn a new form of communication. As a result, these enslaved Africans began creating songs and dances inspired by their African roots and experiences on the plantation. The first musical genre created through this century was Negro Spirituals. Negro Spirituals were sung as a way to communicate, worship, and more. This then evolved into call and response, the holler, and Folk music. For Folk Music, they would use instruments such as, the bones, banjo, fiddle, djembe, tambourine and even their own body. This evolution of music has produced numerous prominent musicians that inspired many artist and genres today.
Appropriation
As African Americans continued to enhance their culture and musical abilities in the early 19th century, White Americans would gather and mock the culture, accents, songs, and dances of freed and enslaved Black individuals. These Blackface gatherings, more known as minstrelsy, became the most popular source of entertainment in the 19th century. Not only did they use Blackface to mock racial stereotypes, but they would substantially mock Folk music to the point of total appropriation. Folk music later became so popular in the White community that its deep roots in the history of the enslaved African Americans goes ignored and forgotten. Due to this appropriation this genre is now referred to as Country music and is majority played by White artist. Today members of the Black community have to fight to be recognized as “country artist” and have most times been told that Black individuals don’t belong in the country category.
