The American West was the meeting ground for numerous races and cultures; Native Americans, Hispanics, Anglo Americans, African Americans, and Chinese immigrants. During Westward Expansion, each group brought their own musical tradition and expressed themselves through song. We examine their stories of oppression, resistance, and peace, told through music.
Find the full transcript of this episode including citations at our website:
https://www.americanhistoryremix.com/episodeguide/music-and-race
In this episode we cover…
Introduction [00:00-03:15]
Native Americans [03:15-07:01]
Blackface Minstrelsy [07:01-10:56]
The Banjo [10:56-13:46]
Chinese Immigrants & Yellowface [13:46-17:06]
Cantonese Opera [17:06-19:20]
Chinese Immigration [19:20-21:39]
Racial Hierarchy [21:39-23:03]
Pan-Indian Identity [23:03-25:02]
Ghost Dance [25:02-28:29]
Mexican Americans [28:29-30:31]
Corridos [30:31-33:56]
Cantonese Songs [33:56-36:15]
Immigration & Sexuality [36:15-38:18]
Natives & the Overland Trail [38:18-42:15]
Indianist Movement [42:15-44:12]
African American Performers [44:12-47:02]
Cross-Racial Love [47:02-49:00]
Diversity in the West [49:00-50:14]
Conclusion [50:14-51:54]
To dive deeper into these topics (affiliate links):
David Dary, Seeking Pleasure in the Old West
https://tinyurl.com/Seeking-Pleasure
Laurent Dubois, The Banjo: America's African Instrument
https://tinyurl.com/The-Banjo
Marlon K. Hom, Songs of Gold Mountain: Cantonese Rhymes from San Francisco Chinatown
https://tinyurl.com/Songs-of-Gold
Krystyn R. Moon, Yellowface: Creating the Chinese in American Popular Music and Performance, 1850s-1920s
https://tinyurl.com/Moon-Yellowface
Melissa Parkhurst, To Win the Indian Heart: Music at Chemawa Indian School
https://tinyurl.com/To-Win-the-Indian-Heart
Irwin Siber and Earl Robinson, ed., Songs of the Great American West
https://tinyurl.com/Songs-of-the-Great
Judith Vander, Shoshone Ghost Dance Religion: Poetry Songs and Great Basin Context
https://tinyurl.com/Shoshone-Ghost-Dance
Music Credits:
"Corrido de Joaquín Murrieta" by Luis Méndez and Guadalupe Bracamonte from the recording entitled Raíces Latinas: Smithsonian Folkways Latino Roots Collection, SFW40470, courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. (p) 2002. Used by permission.
“Ghost Dance Song” performed by Red Shadow Singers. Used with permission. Turtle Lodge (Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba, Canada) and Red Shadow Singers.
“Spanish is the Loving Tongue” by Charles Badger Clark and Billy Simon. Arranged by Lara Randby. Performed by Matt Stutzman. Used with permission.
“Oh! Susanna” By Stephen Foster. Performed by Tom Roush.
“Navajo War Dance no. 2” by Arthur Farwell. Performed by Chris Brewer, 2024. Public Domain.
“Rosa Cheng Artist Video” by Rosa Cheng, Published 2021. Permission granted by Rosa Cheng, Artistic Director of the Vancouver Cantonese Opera.
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