All Shook Up History Book Review

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All Shook Up
Music has the power to influence decisions, cultures, religion, politics, and sexuality. The power of music is evident in the rise of Rock and Roll music in the 1950s. It is not a coincidence that Rock and Roll were invented and gained momentum in the 1950s at the same with the Civil rights movement. American society was healing from world war II, migration of workers, and improved technology, which increased the social anxiety of change. As society was changing, so was the generation that sought independence and a sense of identity expression. This essay analyzes how music, specifically rock and roll helped teenagers demonstrate their freedom to the point of changing racist societal norms.
In the 1950s, black performers were subjected to tightened Jim Crow laws in response to the civil rights movement. For instance, the police warned the 'darkies,' as they called them, to avoid making eye contact with the white audience, especially women. Crowds were separated into black and white categories with aisles or a painted line. Any artist that tried to challenge the color line was met with violence or death. Rock and roll's impact in American society is vile; however, the consistent theme is the division and unity it brought. Parents and the government were the prominent critics of the influence brought forth by the music. Others disliked the fact that black performers were drawing large crowds. Those who held deer Jim's policies could not stand the rebellious nature of Rock and Roll music. Their fears were warranted as it affected teenagers who were rebellious themselves were drawn to the music. White teenagers listened, got inspired, and flocked concerts of African American performers. Rock and roll are considered a weapon against Jim Crawl because it created a common culture among black and white teenagers, which Jazz failed to do (Vaillancourt).
At the height of Jim Crow, black R&B performers had to maneuver constant conflicts between police officers and the white public. Johnny Otis, bandleader and "Willie and the Hand Jive," hitmaker recalls such incidences n his autobiography. As a white man, he was helpless when his fellow black musician was beaten mercilessly for failing to address a white man as sir. Despite being a top performer, Jackie Wilsonound himself was chased out of town by white residents that brandished guns upon his arrival. This altercation led to Jesse Belvin and his wife, who had a car accident while trying to escape. However, the exceptional music and performances of African Americans were not to be contained for long. Over time, the music scene became so biracially intertwined that the police found it difficult to have complete segregation. As Rock and Roll started to take off, white and black people found ways to break the barriers. The dancing and singing in unison acted as a form of rebellion against the societal rules present. Since then, courageous musicians, black and white, have worked towards concert desegregation. Acts such as The Beatles refused to play in specific venues that required segregation during their 1965 U.S tour.
R&B and black music, in general, rose to mainstream status thanks to the civil rights movement and R...