Ragtime artists today9/11/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() Music occupies a unique place in the museum both because of its importance in its own right and the integral role that music and musicians played in all aspects of African American history, from civil rights struggles and religious ceremonies to social commentary and community building. Given its importance in American history and culture, exploring the history and impact of African American music is a key part of the mission of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The music of African Americans is one of the most poetic and inescapable examples of the importance of the African American experience to the cultural heritage of all Americans, regardless of race or origin. Their work songs, dance tunes, and religious music-and the syncopated, swung, remixed, rocked, and rapped music of their descendants-would become the lingua franca of American music, eventually influencing Americans of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. ![]() People of African descent were among the earliest non-indigenous settlers of what would become the United States, and the rich African musical heritage that they carried with them was part of the foundation of a new American musical culture that mixed African traditions with those of Europe and the Americas. African-American influences are so fundamental to American music that there would be no American music without them. Describing the African-American influence on American music in all of its glory and variety is an intimidating-if not impossible-task. ![]()
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