Musical History of the African-American Community: Soul Music

Music Genre
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Soul Music
In the current music industry, there are various music genres of interest. This year, I got a chance to be introduced to one of the most famous and influential music genres of all time, Soul music. Soul music traces its origins to the African-American community in the United States. The music developed out of the "black experience in America." During this time, the African-Americans were regarded as second-class citizens and treated in a manner of all sorts of atrocities (Hogan, 2003). The African-Americans used Soul music as a mode of venting out their grievances and as a mode of consolation. Soul music is characterized by catchy rhythms that are stressed by handclaps accompanied by extemporaneous body moves. Furthermore, its other features include a "call and response" between the chorus and the lead vocalist and a characteristic tense sound. The genre also uses auxiliary sounds and improvisational additions. Soul music was a fundamental aspect for the African-Americans because it reflected the identity of the Americans (Hogan, 2003). It helped to stress the significance of the African-American culture because it laid much emphasis on the beauty and pride of being black. As a result, it awakened the consciousness of the black community in America causing them to rise and advocate for their rights. History indicates that soul music was a fundamental element in the civil movements in the United States. Most of these movements advocated for the emancipation of the black people from oppression due to their culture and race (Hogan, 2003). For instance, it helped to shape the perceptions of notable activists and religious leaders that spe...