The "golden age" of black nationalism began in response to the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and extended to the time of Marcus Garvey's imprisonment in 1925. During these seventy-five years; an upsurge of back-to-Africa schemes stimulated a burst of literary output and nurtured the growth of a tradition that flourished until the end of the century. This tradition then underwent a powerful revitalization with the rise of Marcus Garvey and the ideological Pan-Africanism of W.E.B. Du Bois. In this controversial volume; The Golden Age of Black Nationalism; Wilson Jeremiah Moses argues that by adopting European and American nationalist and separatist doctrines; black nationalism became; ironically; a vehicle for the assimilationist values among black American intellectuals. First providing the historical background to black nationalism and Pan-Africanism; he then explores the specific manifestations of the tradition in the intellectual and institutional history of black Americans. He describes the work of Alexander Crummell; W.E.B. Du Bois; Frederick Douglass; Booker T. Washington--specifically challenging the traditional interpretation of Washington as a betrayer of Douglass' vision--and the National Association of Colored Women. Moses also examines the tradition of genteel black nationalism in literature; concentrating on the novels of Martin Delany and Sutton Griggs; as well as the early poetry of W.E.B. Du Bois. Using literary history instead of literary criticism; he identifies the particularly Anglo-African qualities in these works. He concludes with a description of those trends that led to the decline of classical black nationalism at the time of the Harlem Renaissance and the "New Negro Movement;" which attempted to redefine the cultural and spiritual goals of Afro-Americans. Offering both a critical and sympathetic treatment of the black nationalist movement in the United States; Moses' study will stimulate further debate concerning the nature of the assimilationist tendencies dominating black nationalist ideology in the "golden age."
#189528 in Books Glenn C Altschuler 2004-12-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x .80 x 9.20l; .83 #File Name: 0195177495240 pagesAll Shook Up How Rock n Roll Changed America
Review
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Examining Change through the Lens of MusicBy Rebecca S DobrinskiIn All Shook Up; Glenn C. Altschuler examines the changing times of the 1950s through the lens of popular music. During the 1950s it seemed that nothing was truly safe from change. McCarthyism and anti-communism changed labor unions and politics. Suburban construction changed the demographics of cities. A tired seamstress on a bus changed how people used public transportation. The swivel of a man’s hips and the twang of a guitar changed music forever.Altschuler focuses his chapters on rock ‘n’ roll’s affects on specific aspects of social culture in the 1950s. He describes how white kids listened to and danced to music performed by black artists. He also shows the different ways black artists either catered to white audiences or tried to assimilate into white culture. Coinciding with the publication of the Kinsey Report; rock ‘n’ roll lyrics came under even more scrutiny; with parents and lawmakers believing that the music was responsible for teenagers experimentation with sex. Rock ‘n’ roll music was blamed for generational conflicts and teenage rebellion. Some people even linked the lure of rock ‘n’ roll to communist conspiracies.However; I think Altschuler is giving too much responsibility to this single aspect of popular culture. While I believe in the power of music as well as the importance it plays in modern teenagers’ search for identity; I hesitate to give music as much responsibility for social change as he does. By singling out rock ‘n’ roll music and giving the genre such weight in affecting the lives of teenagers; the country should have experienced the highest rates of unmarried teenage pregnancy; a complete turn around into a communist country; high rates of incarceration and lawlessness; and a frenzied orgy in every small town. However; this did not happen in the 1950s.What did happen was that rock ‘n’ roll played a role in an environment that was ripe for change. It is another item on the list that made the 1950s such a significant decade. Within the context of anti-communism; McCarthyism; the Interstate system; suburbanization; television; conspicuous consumption; the automobile; the Cold War; and technological advances; it is an important factor that would not be as significant without looking at the decade as a whole and the 1950s-1960s as an era.Music was a social lubricant and a personal identifier in many cases; but was not the catalyst for the social changes the US experienced in the 1960s. It set the groundwork for a musical revolution; but so did musical technology like the electric guitar. Altschuler defines rock ‘n’ roll as strictly a teenage phenomenon; but music transcends generations. It may not have happened in every household; but I’m sure that some parents enjoyed rhythm and blues music or bought Elvis records.In his Epilogue; Altschuler chooses Bruce Springsteen as the heir apparent to the 1950s music; but then he explains that Woodstock was the natural progression for a generation that came of age on rock ‘n’ roll. I fail to see the segue way between the 1950s and Woodstock or Woodstock and Springsteen. The Woodstock generation were simply too young to have been as affected by the advent of rock ‘n’ roll.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Discovered hidden meaning in song lyricsBy Ronald A. DelorenzoHaving been a teenager in the 50s; I found many sections of the book interesting. I especially enjoyed learning some of the hidden racial messages in songs I once thought to be simple love songs. I would recommend the book to anybody who lived during that time and/or who is interested in the background information of the early stars of Rock 'n' Roll and/or the politics behind the music business.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy THOMAS M MWOLOLOGood
