WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
Some Current Folk-Songs of the Negro cover

Some Current Folk-Songs of the Negro

Open in WeRead

About This Book

The author assembles and analyzes a collection of Black folk songs gathered from a semi-rural laboring class, combining transcribed lyrics with social and psychological observations. He argues that these songs reflect economic conditions—changes in agricultural labor, competition, and class position—and examines song forms, themes, and uses in work, religion, and burial rites. Methodological notes and vivid anecdotes illustrate fieldwork and folk beliefs, while interpretation links motifs and performance contexts to material life. The pamphlet balances raw song texts, ethnographic detail, and a sociological reading that situates musical expression as a response to shifting labor systems.

About the Author

Thomas, W. H. portrait

W. H. Thomas

W. H. Thomas was an American scholar and folklorist known for his contributions to the study of African American music and culture. His notable work, "Some Current Folk-Songs of the Negro," explores the rich tradition of folk songs among African American communities, highlighting their cultural significance and historical context. Through his research, Thomas aimed to preserve and document the oral traditions that have shaped American music. His work remains an important resource for understanding the complexities of folk music and its role in the African American experience.

You May Also Like