New Orleans

Black and blues: Jazz and the politics of forgetting

Blues and Jazz music are touted as America’s original art form, yet their dark origins are often overlooked. We travel south through the Delta along the Mississippi River to learn about the history of these musical genres, focusing on their complicated racial past rooted in slavery and segregation.

Learning objectives

Students develop an understanding of the complex relationship between the exploitation of blues and jazz musicians and the proliferation of the genres in mainstream music.
Students demonstrate critical consciousness about the debates around black or white ownership of blues and jazz in the U.S.
Students deepen their understanding of the role of blues and jazz as a form of protest and empowerment for slaves and activists during the Civil Rights Movement.

Program highlights

  • National Civil Rights Museum
  • Plantations and the Birthplace of Blues
  • History and context through museums
  • Blues and Jazz Performances
  • Record Label and Recording Studio Immersions
  • Steamboat down the Mississippi
  • Drum and Dance Workshop
  • Second Line Parade Experience

recommendations

All Seasons

6-8 days; 12-25 students

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Joe Vogel
Parent. Envoys Colombia 2018

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Amy G.
Parent. Envoys Colombia 2018

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere."

Angela
Parent. Envoys Colombia 2018

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere."

Amy
Parent. Envoys Colombia 2018

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere."

Angela
Parent. Envoys Colombia 2018

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere."

Amy
Parent. Envoys Colombia 2018

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere."

Angela
Parent. Envoys Colombia 2018

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere."

Amy
Parent. Envoys Colombia 2018