Dr. Raymond Summerville joins me, as he is the African American Folklorist of February, to discuss the importance of having more Black Folklore scholars in the field to lead the discourse of our narrative, traditions, literature, and the dissemination of found research that represents the Black American experience. He also dives into his beginnings and what inspired him to write his book, In Proverb Masters: Shaping the Civil Rights Movement.Dr. Raymond Summerville is an alumnus of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (BA, BS, and MA in English and African-American Literature) and the University of Missouri-Columbia (PhD in English with a concentration in Folklore, Oral Tradition, and Culture). His research interests include African American history, African American literature, postcolonial studies, paremiology, phraseology, hip-hop, blues, and other folklore genres. He currently teaches at Fayetteville State University in North Carolina.
BluesKultur & Gesellschaft
Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Radio Folgen
Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation (JDBHPF) is a nonprofit established in 2011, officially becoming a 501 (c) 3 in 2016 to create public programs that raise cultural and ethnic awareness of Black traditional music, traditional art, folklore, oral histories, and the experiences of Black people in the United States. Standing on the foundation of the Blues People's legacy, JDBHPF works to celebrate, preserve, and conserve Blues music and culture while highlighting the many events in American history that have cultivated our communities and musical expressions.
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Folge vom 02.03.2025African American Folklorist of The Month - Dr. Raymond Summerville
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Folge vom 02.03.2025The African American Folklorist of the Month - Dr. Anika WilsonOn this episode, speak with Dr. Anika Wilson, The African American Folklorist of the Month for March! Wilson discusses her book, methodology, scholarship, and positionality as a Black Academic in the field. Anika Wilson (she/her) is Associate Professor and former chair of the Department African and African Diaspora Studies at UW-Milwaukee. She earned her doctorate in Folklore and Folklife Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and specializes in informal narratives (gossip, rumor, etc.). Her book Folklore, Gender, and AIDS in Malawi: No Secret Under the Sun (2013) was awarded the Elli Kongas Maranda Award for feminist scholarship in folklore in 2014. She teaches course topics related to African and African diasporic societies, expressive cultures, spirituality, and gender relations. Her current research project focuses on spirituality, sacredness, and the environment in southern Africa. ( American Folklore Society )
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Folge vom 17.02.2025?️ From Slave Seculars to The Blues Pt. 2 – The Legacy of Black Spirituals and Hymnals ??️ From Slave Seculars to The Blues: Preserving & Conserving Black American Folklore Pt. 2 – The Legacy of Black Spirituals and Hymnals ?Join us for Part 2 of our deep dive into the evolution of Black American music, as we explore how Black Spirituals, hymnals, and Slave Seculars informed the Blues. In this episode, we uncover the sacred and secular traditions that shaped the foundation of the blues, from the sorrowful expressions of spirituals to the raw storytelling of early blues songs.We’ll break down the two distinct styles of Black hymnals—one rooted in oral tradition and the other shaped by formal musical training—and discuss how class and education influenced Black religious music. We’ll also examine how field hollers, lined-out hymns, and call-and-response structures carried over into the blues, creating a continuous thread of Black cultural expression.Expect a mix of history, storytelling, and audience participation as we connect the past to the present.? Tune in and join the conversation as we honor, preserve, and celebrate Black musical heritage! ?Songs Played Title• The Old Ship of ZionNames• Johnson, Warren G. (Performer)• Gregory, Richard (Performer)• Richardson, Zema (Performer)• Winrow, Anthony (Performer)• Work, John W. (John Wesley), 1901-1967 (Collector)• Holloway High School Quartet (Performer)Created / Published• Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 1941Headings• - African Americans--Southern States--MusicSource Collection• John Work Collection of Negro Folk Music from the Southeast (AFC 1941/035)Repository• American Folklife CenterTitle• John the RevelatorNames• Work, John W. (John Wesley), 1901-1967 (Collector)• Heavenly Gate Quartet (Performer)Created / Published• Nashville, Tennessee, 1941Headings• - African Americans--Southern States--Music• - The performers of this song are identified by Bruce Nemerov as the Heavenly Gate Quartet. "In the spring of 1941 John Work recorded the Heavenly Gate Quartet at his house...(AFS #5163-64)" -- article by Bruce Nemerov.• - Heavenly Gate Quartet, unaccompanied vocals.Medium• Sound disc : analog ; 12 in.Call Number/Physical Location• AFC 1941/035: AFS 05163a01Source Collection• John Work Collection of Negro Folk Music from the Southeast (AFC 1941/035)Title• Po' Boy Long Way From HomeNames• Work, John W. (John Wesley), 1901-1967 (Collector)• Chestain, Sonny (Performer)Created / Published• Georgia, 1941Headings• - African Americans--Southern States--MusicSource Collection• John Work Collection of Negro Folk Music from the Southeast (AFC 1941/035)Repository• American Folklife CenterTitle• Rock My Soul in the Bosom of AbrahamNames• Work, John W. (John Wesley), 1901-1967 (Collector)• Unidentified vocal quartet (Performer)Created / Published• Fort Valley, Georgia, 1941Headings• - African Americans--Southern States--MusicSource Collection• John Work Collection of Negro Folk Music from the Southeast (AFC 1941/035)Repository• American Folklife CenterDigital Id
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Folge vom 11.02.2025From Slave Seculars to The Blues: Preserving & Conserving Black American FolkloreIn this episode, we explore the rich cultural legacy of Black American music, focusing on the evolution from slave seculars—non-religious songs of survival, work, and resistance—to the development of the blues. Through stories, historical insights, and music, we uncover how enslaved African Americans used music to communicate, preserve their identity, and confront hardship. They also used their traditional expression to resist and revolt against ideologies and beliefs not part of their traditions. We also highlight the contributions of early folklorists, musicians, and modern artists who continue to keep these traditions alive. Join us as we celebrate the resilience and creativity that shaped American music and culture.