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All Flashcards
Who was Langston Hughes?
A writer who celebrated Black identity and experience during the Harlem Renaissance.
Who was Zora Neale Hurston?
A writer who celebrated Black identity and experience during the Harlem Renaissance.
Who was Josephine Baker?
A star who launched her career in Broadway musicals like Shuffle Along (1921).
Who was Paul Robeson?
A star who launched his career in Broadway musicals like Shuffle Along (1921).
Who was Ethel Waters?
First African American to headline her own TV show in 1939; starred in *Cabin in the Sky*.
Who was Lena Horne?
Starred in *Cabin in the Sky*.
Who was Louis Armstrong?
Starred in *Cabin in the Sky*.
Who was Duke Ellington?
Led the orchestra in *Cabin in the Sky*.
Who was Fats Waller?
Featured in *Stormy Weather*.
Who was Cab Calloway?
Featured in *Stormy Weather*.
Define Harlem Renaissance.
Flourishing of African American cultural and intellectual life in Harlem, NYC, early 1900s.
Define Jazz Age.
Period in the early 1900s when jazz music and culture gained widespread popularity.
What is electric blues?
Blues music that emerged in cities like Chicago and Detroit, featuring amplified instruments and full bands.
Define improvisation in music.
The art of spontaneously creating music during a performance.
Define syncopation in music.
A rhythmic technique that emphasizes off-beat notes.
What are all-Black cast musicals?
Musicals produced by major Hollywood studios featuring entirely Black casts.
Define Bebop.
A style of jazz characterized by fast tempo, complex harmonies, and improvisation.
Define Big Band Swing.
A style of jazz popular in the 1930s and 40s, characterized by large ensembles and danceable rhythms.
Define call-and-response.
A musical pattern where a phrase is sung or played and then answered by another phrase.
What is the Great Migration?
The movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North in the early to mid-20th century.
What is the significance of the Apollo Theater?
Key venue for Black performers during the Harlem Renaissance.
What themes are common in blues music?
Despair, hope, love, loss, and overcoming adversity.
What are the characteristics of blues music?
Emotive vocals, repetitive lyrics, call-and-response, AAVE, 12-bar progression, improvisation.
What are the key elements of jazz?
Improvisation, syncopation, and complex harmonies.
What is the cultural impact of jazz?
Considered America's most significant homegrown art form.
How did Black performers challenge stereotypes?
By breaking barriers in entertainment, from cabarets to Broadway and Hollywood.
What was the role of cabarets in Black entertainment?
Black performers found success featuring singers, dancers, and comedians.
What is the significance of 'It Don't Mean a Thing' by Duke Ellington?
Exemplifies jazz innovation, blending improvisation and sophisticated orchestration.
What is the significance of Katherine Dunham's choreography?
Fused African and Caribbean dance with ballet and modern dance, elevating Black dance on Broadway.
What is the significance of Ethel Waters' role in Cabin in the Sky?
Breakthrough for African American performers, challenging stereotypes and showcasing Black talent.