Davis, Angela

Blues Legacies and Black Feminism: Gertrude Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday

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ISBN 13:
9780679771265
author:
Davis, Angela
format:
Paperback
publisher:
Vintage Books
language:
English
Publication Year:
1999
Pages:
464
Dimensions:
20.24 x 13.11 x 2.39 centimetres
Genre:
Black studies
Condition:
New
Availability:
Item usually sent within 10 working days
£13.59

Description

Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Billie Holiday are three pivotal figures in the blues tradition, whose careers have been largely misunderstood by critics. This book provides a fresh analysis of their performances and lyrics through a feminist lens, examining the historical, social, and political contexts that shaped their music. Angela Davis demonstrates how the roots of the blues extend beyond a musical tradition, serving as a consciousness-raising vehicle for American social memory. Through meticulous transcriptions of Rainey and Smith's lyrics, Davis reveals the ways in which their candor and bravado laid the groundwork for an aesthetic that celebrated social, moral, and sexual values outside mainstream American culture. This book is a stunning contribution to American history, offering a bold and insightful perspective on the blues tradition and its significance in shaping American social memory.

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