In Celebration of Black American History Month
Slave
Songs
Gospel
Jazz
Blues
Rock
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Teacher Notes:
This lesson is inspired by the book, I See the Rhythm
by Michele Wood and Toyomi Igus. A beautifully written and illustrated timeline
of African American music over the past 500 years. Important American history
events are interwoven throughout putting the musical eras into context.
Follow the timeline and view video that bring music and history together in
celebration of American Black History Month.
There are many more CCC! programs
that you could include in this lesson.
Simply use CCC! Hyperlinks to
continue to create this celebration
presentation.
To purchase this book, search for:
ISBN #0-89239-151-0
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Click on the background to launch video.
Origins
Griots (storytellers) and priests used music to teach lessons,
talk about history and call on the gods.
1740s
Early 1500s
Slaves are sold
to New World.
1630-1656
Early 1619 Queen Nzinga of Angola
First enslaved
Africans arrive in
Virginia.
leads against
Portuguese slave
traders.
Historical Timeline
Laws are passed in
American Colonies
to keep slaves
from
communicating
using drums.
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Slavery Songs
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Click on the background to launch video.
Quilts were
used to
communicate
to run away
slaves.
Slaves sang
religious
songs to give
them hope
that better
days would
come.
1776
1831
Congress adopts
Declaration of
Independence. It
did not free blacks
from slavery.
Nat Turner leads
the most famous
slave revolt in U.S.
History.
1849
Harriet Tubman
begins helping
slaves escape on
the Underground
Railroad.
Historical Timeline
1850
The Fugitive Slave
Act is passed. It is
now illegal to give
shelter to runaway
slaves.
1861
The Civil War
begins.
The Beginning of Blues
Click on the background to launch video.
Historical Timeline
1863
1865
1890s
Lincoln signs the
Emancipation
Proclamation.
Slaves are now
free but not equal.
1912
The Civil War Ends
Attacks and
lynchings result in
many blacks and
white supporters
killed.
The first blues
song is published
“Memphis Blues”
by W.C. Handy.
1872
The Risk Jubilee
Singers go on tour.
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Ragtime
Click on the background to launch video.
Historical Timeline
1899
Scott Joplin’s
“Maple Leaf Rag”
becomes a hit.
1909
The NAACP is
formed.
1909
The NAACP is
formed.
1914-1020
The Great
Migration.
Southern black
move North for a
better life.
JAZZ
Click on the Savoy
to launch video.
1901
Louis “Satchmo”
Armstrong is born
in New Orleans.
1914-1918
WWI – almost
400,000 black men
serve in the armed
forces.
1917: Black Pride
Historical Timeline
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Martin Garvey
begins chapter of
Universal Negro
Improvement
Assoc.
Swing Sounds
Click on the
background to
launch video.
1899
Edward Kennedy
Ellington (Duke) is
born.
1920-1930s
The Harlem Renaissance:
African Americans are
widely recognized for
their great writers, artists
and musicians.
1934
Historical Timeline
Ella Fitzgerald joins Chick
Webb’s band at age 17.
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Be Bop
Click on the background to launch video.
Historical Timeline
1939-1945
Over 1 million black men
1948
serve in segregated armed
Under pressure, President
services.
Truman desegregates the
armed forces.
1956
Dizzie Gillespie is sent
around the world by U.S.
State Dept. as the
Ambassador of Jazz.
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Gospel
Click on the
Gospel Choir to
launch video.
Historical Timeline
1947
Mahalia Jackson
records “Move On
Up a Little Higher”
which sells 1
million copies.
1954
Landmark Case:
Brown versus
Board of Education
1955
Rosa Parks takes
her rightful seat
on the bus.
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Rhythm
and Blues
Historical Timeline
1961
Barry Gordy forms Motown
Recording Studio
1963
Martin Luther King Jr. delivers
famous speech, “I’ve Got a Dream.”
1964
President Johnson signed into law the
Civil Rights Act outlawing discrimination
in housing, employment and education.
1965
Malcolm X is assassinated.
1965
Click here
Aretha Franklin records “RESPECT.”
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
Black
Rock and Roll
Historical Timeline
1955
Chuck Berry records
his first big hit.
1955-1959
Little Richard records a string
of hits and becomes known
as the King of Rock ‘n Roll.
1968
1969
Dr. Martin Luther
King is assassinated.
U.S. puts first man
on the moon.
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media
In Celebration of Black American History Month
Slave
Songs
Gospel
Jazz
Blues
Rock
Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media