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Article: The Power of Black Music: Interpreting its History from Africa to the United States.
- Article from:
- African American Review
- Article date:
- September 22, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 African American Review. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Reviewed by
Christopher Brooks Virginia Commonwealth University
After several "false" starts (i.e., picking this book up, reflecting on Floyd's thesis, and wondering if I agreed or not), I began this review in earnest. The argument that Samuel Floyd makes in The Power of Black Music is a compelling one that demands serious consideration, especially for specialists. For those of us who have taught African American music surveys or specialized seminars in the area, it offers and affirms many ideas, challenges old assumptions, and suggests new approaches to existing ideas. It is a well-researched book and draws on many sources both printed and recorded to support ...