Pop Culture

Damia's Post

The evolution of African American clothing is difficult to trace because of the lack of historical evidence. However, much of early African clothing history has been pieced together from art, oral histories, and traditions that are continued by present-day tribal members. It wasn't until Europeans began trading and later developing colonies in Africa in the thirteenth century C.E., when information about how Africans dressed was recorded, and that continues to this day. 

 

 During the civil rights movement, along with the head wrap, other young black revolutionaries adopted what they perceived to be West African attire, such as caftans and male head caps. Men and women grew their hair into enormous styles called "Afros", allowing for the natural texture to be emphasized in direct reaction against conks and Walker's straightening products that attempted to simulate European hair. Since the 1960's, some black men have continued to look back to Africa by wearing Rasta locks while black women have their hair braided into elaborate African styles, often adding hairpieces. 

African Americans generally have dressed in the prevailing fashions along with other Americans. Between 1895 and 1925, black intellectuals, literati, and artists strove to present themselves as quite different from the racist stereotypical cartoon illustrations of "Mammys" and "Sambos" drawn by whites. Many illustrations show these "New Negroes" groomed and adorned in conservative, mainstream dress.

100 Years of Beauty:USA 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtApHjxsGq4
African American Music Evolution Timeline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wORf_Qv6o58

The Black influence on American music is greatly under appreciated. The image of rock stars today seem to be slim,white guys in ripped jeans and long hair. 

Their style of music is usually wailing barely audible lyrics over a thrashing guitar riff. Though that may not be the style for everyone, that style of music holds its place in sculpting the history of music. Artists varying from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen, from Nirvana to Marilyn Mansion, we rarely see the link to Black folks within the context of modern rock.

Other artist like Elvis Presley, who are known as the "King of Rock n' Roll" owe their style of music to musicians such as Chuck Berry, who for many is the real King of Rock. Berry, Ike Turner and Little Richard produced the kind of music that Elvis, The Rolling Stones and other rock heavy weights mimicked for years to come.