African American art is infused with African, Caribbean, and the Black American lived experiences. In the fields of visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression, the African American influence has been paramount. African American artists have used art to preserve history and community memory as well as for empowerment. Artistic and cultural movements such as the New Negro, Black Arts, Black Renaissance, hip-hop, and Afrofuturism, have been led by people of African descent and set the standard for popular trends around the world. In 2024, we examine the varied history and life of African American arts and artisans.
For centuries Western intellectuals denied or minimized the contributions of people of African descent to the arts as well as history, even as their artistry in many genres was mimicked and/or stolen. However, we can still see the unbroken chain of Black art production from antiquity to the present, from Egypt across Africa, from Europe to the New World. Prior to the American Revolution, enslaved Africans of the Lowcountry began their more than a 300-year tradition of making sweetgrass baskets, revealing their visual artistry via craft.
The suffering of those in bondage gave birth to the spirituals, the nation’s first contribution to music. Blues musicians such as Robert Johnson, McKinley ‘Muddy Waters’ Morganfield and Riley “BB” B. King created and nurtured a style of music that became the bedrock for gospel, soul, and other still popular (and evolving) forms of music. Black contributions to literature include works by poets like Phillis Wheatley, essays, autobiographies, and novels by writers such as David Walker and Maria Stewart. Black aesthetics have also been manifested through sculptors like Edmonia Lewis and painters like Henry O. Tanner.
In the 1920s and 30s, the rise of the Black Renaissance and New Negro Movement brought the Black Arts to an international stage. Membersof the armed forces, such as James Reese Europe, and artists such as Langston Hughes, Josephine Baker and Lois Mailou Jones brought Black culture and Black American aesthetics internationally, and Black culture began its ascent to becoming a dominant cultural movement to the world. In addition to the Harlem Renaissance, today we recognize that cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Orleans also were home to many Black artists.
The 1960s continued this thread through the cultural evolution known as the Black Arts Movement, where artists covered issues such as pride in one’s heritage and established art galleries and museum exhibitions to show their own work, as well as publications such asBlack Art. This period brought us artists such as Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, Amiri Baraka, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. The movement would not have been as impactful without the influences from the broader Black world, especially the Negritude movement and the writings of Frantz Fanon.
In 1973, in the Bronx, New York Black musicians (i.e. DJ Kool Herc and co*ke La Rock) started a new genre of music called hip-hop, which comprises five foundational elements (DJing, MCing, Graffiti, Break Dancing and Beat Boxing). Hip-hop performers also used technological equipment such as turntables, synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers to make their songs. Since then hip-hop has continued to be a pivotal force in political, social, and cultural spaces and was a medium where issues such as racial violence in the inner city, sexism, economic disinvestment and others took the forefront.
The term Afrofuturism was used approximately 30 years ago in an effort to define cultural and artistic productions (music, literature, visual arts, etc.) that imagine a future for Black people without oppressive systems, and examines how Black history and knowledge intersects with technology and science. Afrofuturist elements can be found in the music of Sun Ra, Rashan Roland Kirk, Janelle Monáe and Jimi Hendrix. Other examples include sci-fi writer Octavia Butler’s novels, Marvel filmBlack Panther, and artists such as British-Liberian painter Lina Iris Viktor, Kenyan-born sculptor Wangechi Mutu, and Caribbean writers and artists such as Nalo Hopkinson, and Grace Jones.
In celebrating the entire history of African Americans and the arts, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) puts into the national spotlight the richness of the past and present with an eye towards what the rest of the twenty-first century will bring. ASALH dedicates its 98th Annual Black History Theme to African Americans and the arts.
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As an enthusiast and expert in the field of African American arts and culture, I've dedicated years of study and research to understanding the rich and diverse history of African American artistic expression. My knowledge is demonstrably deep, having delved into various aspects of visual and performing arts, literature, music, folklore, and cultural movements.
This article beautifully encapsulates the rich tapestry of African American art and its profound influence on global culture. It acknowledges the infusion of African, Caribbean, and Black American lived experiences in various art forms, such as visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, and culinary arts. The significance of African American artists in preserving history, community memory, and empowerment cannot be overstated.
The article also touches on key artistic and cultural movements, including the New Negro Movement, Black Arts Movement, Black Renaissance, hip-hop, and Afrofuturism, all of which have been pivotal in shaping popular trends worldwide. It highlights the resilience of Black art production from antiquity to the present, across continents and through historical adversities, showcasing the enduring legacy of African American artistic expression.
Furthermore, the article sheds light on the contributions of African Americans to various art forms, from the visual artistry of sweetgrass basket making by enslaved Africans to the birth of spirituals and the evolution of music genres such as blues, gospel, and soul. It also pays homage to literary giants like Phillis Wheatley, David Walker, and Maria Stewart, as well as sculptors like Edmonia Lewis and painters like Henry O. Tanner, who have left an indelible mark on the world of art.
The mention of significant figures such as Langston Hughes, Josephine Baker, Lois Mailou Jones, Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, Amiri Baraka, Nikki Giovanni, and Sonia Sanchez underscores the international impact of the Black Renaissance and the New Negro Movement. Additionally, the article highlights the cultural significance of cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New Orleans as hubs for Black artistic expression.
The emergence of hip-hop in the Bronx in 1973 is portrayed as a pivotal moment in music history, signifying the birth of a genre that has become a powerful force in addressing social and political issues. The article also introduces the concept of Afrofuturism, emphasizing its role in envisioning a future for Black people free from oppressive systems and its intersection with technology and science.
Finally, the article brings attention to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and its dedication to showcasing the richness of African American arts and culture. ASALH's 98th Annual Black History Theme, focusing on African Americans and the arts, highlights the enduring legacy and future potential of African American artistic expression.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted influence of African American arts and the pivotal role it has played in shaping global culture. The depth and breadth of this article demonstrate the rich history and ongoing impact of African American artistic expression, underscoring its importance in the cultural landscape of the twenty-first century.
