Music and race

Music is deeply connected to our identities. Sometimes, these identities intersect with our racial identities, shaping how we listen to, understand, and feel about music. Race influences the artists we choose to listen to, how we respond to their stories, and the way we evaluate musical authenticity.

In this module, we explore the complex relationship between music and race. We’ll consider how music is used to express racial identities, how racial identities can shape experiences of music, and how assumptions about authenticity and representation affect our perceptions as listeners. We’ll consider not only what the artists bring to the music, but also what we as listeners bring to the act of listening.

Required reading and listening

Our first reading for this module comes from ethnomusicologist James McNally, who explores how race, nation, and identity intersect in Brazilian popular music. He describes how musicians articulate complex racial histories and identities within their work. As you read, focus on these key questions:

• How do Brazilian musicians use music to represent racial identities, and how are these identities intertwined with national narratives?
• What role does authenticity play in this representation? Who decides what is “authentic” and why?
• How might racial identities and national belonging be challenged, negotiated, or reinforced through popular music?

Be sure to follow and explore the embedded listening examples included in the essay. Also, reflect back on the nationalism segment to consider how these ideas of identity can intersect.

James McNally, “Articulating race and nation in Brazilian popular song”

In the United States, racial expectations and assumptions surrounding this music and musical history has become heightened, especially following a string of popular and critical successes by Black artists including Lil’ Nas X, Darius Rucker, and most prominently, Beyoncé. But these arguments often center on misconceptions of country music history.

Choose two “discs” from the Country Music Hall of Fame project “From Where I Stand.” As of this writing, the four discs of music are listed under the opening essays and are titled “The Stringband Era,” “Soul Country,” “Forward with Pride,” and “Reclaiming the Heritage.” Each features embedded music and video clips with discussions of the tracks and artists as they relate to race, identity, inclusion, or exclusion within country music. They are roughly chronological, with discs two and three focused on what is most often thought of when considering “country music” (the time into and out of the shift to Nashville as the prominent center of the scene).

After selecting your two discs, spend time listening carefully. The full sets are available at the bottom of disc’s page. Consider the following questions:

• How does knowing the identity or personal experiences of an artist influence your listening experience? Do you find yourself hearing music differently based on who created it or what stories it represents?
• In what ways does race or racial identity intersect with ideas of authenticity in country music? Are these ideas explicit or subtle, contested or accepted?
• What assumptions or expectations might listeners have about country music based on race, region, or identity, and how do these assumptions shape our own experiences of the music?

Be sure to jot down specific notes, lyrics, or musical moments that illustrate your responses.

Assignment: Listening through race and identity

For this discussion assignment, you’ll write a short reflection (300 words) that addresses how experiences of race and identity influence your listening to music. There are two primary ways you might approach this:

Option 1: Artist identities and authenticity

Reflect on how your knowledge about an artist’s racial or cultural identity influences your experience of their music. Consider ideas of authenticity—do you think differently about a song or artist based on your assumptions or knowledge about their background? Are you more inclined to trust or value certain artists based on how their racial identities intersect with their music or its genre? Use examples from your listening this week.

Option 2: Personal listening and racial identity

Reflect on your own racial or cultural identity and how it shapes the way you experience music. Have you ever felt drawn toward or away from certain music because of your own racial or cultural background? Are there genres or artists you relate to more closely due to identity, or conversely, feel less connected to? Again, reference specific examples from your experiences and the listening you did this week.

In your response, connect your thoughts explicitly to ideas from the reading and your chosen essays. Clearly indicate the essays you chose, and include details from the music you listened to. Remember, specifics matter!

An important note

In your responses to classmates, reflect on their experiences. Did you relate to their feelings or perspectives? Were there surprises or differences in how each of you understood race, identity, and authenticity within music? Engage thoughtfully with the insights your peers share, making clear connections to course material.

Remember to connect your thoughts clearly and specifically to the readings and listening. Review the discussion grading rubric for details, and ask questions if you need clarification!