African Americans in US Popular Culture

Description

African-Americans have made a unique contribution to the richness and diversity of US popular culture. Rooted in African society and traditions, black slaves in America created a dynamic culture which continues to evolve. Hip Hop and Rap music are still shaped by the historical experience of slavery and the ongoing will to oppose oppression and racism. This volume is an authoritative introduction to the history of African-Americans in US popular culture, examining its development from the early 19th century to 2003. Kevern Verney examines the role and significance of race in all major forms of popular culture, including sport, film, television, radio and music. He also looks at how Hollywood and the entertainment industry have encouraged racism through misrepresentations and caricatured images of African-Americans.

Kevern Verney is a Senior Lecturer in American History at Edge Hill College of Higher Education. He is the author of Black Civil Rights in America (Routledge 2000) and The Art of the Possible: Booker T. Washington and Black Leadership in the United States, 1881-1925 (Routledge 2001).