ABSTRACT
In the mid-twentieth century, the trend toward racial integration must be viewed as a positive development in US history. However, it would appear that in the midst of this positive advancement, there was a tendency to “welcome” African Americans, but not always their culture. As a result, aspects of black culture forged in the less progressive years between slavery and the end of World War II have been ignored or misrepresented. This chapter examines this contention as it relates to female African-American vocalists, and the popular music of “the other” America.
