Key Vocabulary from Jazz History Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to jazz history, the Harlem Renaissance, and the cultural discussions surrounding race in America.

Jazz

A genre of music characterized by swing and blue notes, call and response vocals, polyrhythms, and improvisation.

Harlem Renaissance

A cultural, social, and artistic explosion centered in Harlem, New York, spanning the 1920s.

Syncopation

A musical rhythm that stresses the weak beats.

Negro Artist

An artist of African descent in America, especially during the Harlem Renaissance.

Racial Mountain

A metaphor used by Langston Hughes to describe the barriers faced by Black artists in America.

Jazz Age

The period in the 1920s known for the popularity of jazz music and dance.

Ragtonia

A playful suggestion for a term to describe jazz music, away from the term 'jazz'.

Cultural Assimilation

The process by which minority groups adopt the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture.

Spirituals

Songs originating in the African American community, often with religious themes.

Tom-tom

A term used by Langston Hughes to symbolize the rhythm and soul of Black culture.

Bessie Smith

A renowned African American blues singer known as the 'Empress of the Blues'.

Dave Peyton

A Black journalist and bandleader known for his column in the Chicago Defender during the 1920s.

Black Intelligentsia

Educated and influential individuals within the African American community.

Cultural Stereotypes

Oversimplified and standardized ideas or images of people based on their race, ethnicity, or culture.

Inherent

Existing as a natural or essential quality of something.

Racial Individuality

The unique cultural identity and expressions of a particular racial group.

Creative Efflorescence

The flourishing of artistic and literary productions among a group.

Eurocentric

Focused on European culture or history to the exclusion of a wider perspective.