A Right to Sing the Blues - African Americans, Jews, and American Popular Song

understanding of the cultural terrain shared by African Americans and Jews.

List of contents

Introduction: The Languages of Black-Jewish Relations "Yiddle on Your Fiddle": The Culture of Black-Jewish Relations "I Used to Be Color Blind": The Racialness of Jewish Men "Swanee Ripples": From Blackface to White Negro "Lift Ev'ry Voice": African American Music and the Nation "Melancholy Blues": Making Jews Sacred in African American Music Epilogue: The Lasting Power of "Black-Jewish Relations" Notes Index

About the author

Jeffrey Melnick is Associate Professor of American Studies at University of Massachusetts Boston.

Summary

“Black–Jewish relations,” Melnick argues, has mostly been a way for American Jews to talk about their ambivalent racial status. He elaborates this idea through an in-depth look at Jewish songwriters, composers, and performers who made “Black” music in the first few decades of this century.

Product details

• Authors: Jeffrey Melnick, Jeffrey Paul Melnick, Melnick Jeffrey
• Publisher: University Presses
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 16.03.2001
• EAN: 9780674005662
• ISBN: 978-0-674-00566-2
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 235 mm x 19 mm
• Weight: 408 g
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Music; Ethnic Studies, Music, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Jewish Studies, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Blues, United States of America, USA, Music: styles and genres, Relating to Jewish people and groups, Social groups: religious groups and communities