ABSTRACT
Performers of soul music, in communicating the philosophy of the Black Power Movement, promoted the black pride or self-awareness concept. Soul music emerged from the new spirit of social, political and economic liberation. Soul music, in the 1960s, served as a vehicle for self-awareness, protest and social change. The sociological and political significance of soul music in American popular culture will be examined from three perspectives. These perspectives include its use as an agent for advocating social and political change, the path it paved for the acceptance of black music in an unadulturated form, and its impact on American popular culture. Urban black popular music was first introduced to the larger society in the 1940s by white performers who presented "cover" versions of black hits. The music industry, mass media and the adult segment of white America refused to accept black music played by black musicians according to black definitions.
