The Black and Blues: Blues, Jazz and the Politics of Race

Blues and Jazz music are often touted as America’s original art form, yet their dark origins are often overlooked. We will 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. From Memphis through Mississippi to New Orleans, in the area known as the cradle of blues and jazz, we explore how blues and jazz came to simultaneously embody oppression, exploitation, empowerment, and resistance.

Learning Objectives

Develop an understanding of the complex relationship between the exploitation of blues and jazz musicians and the proliferation of the genres in mainstream music.

Demonstrate critical consciousness about the debates around black or white ownership of blues and jazz in the U.S.

Deepen the understanding of the role of blues and jazz as a form of protest and empowerment for slaves and activists during the Civil Rights Movement.

Lenses of Inquiry

Identity and Ownership

What role did the blues and jazz play in forming black identity and culture, particularly in the south?

Empowerment and Resistance

How was blues and jazz used to empower the Civil Rights movement? Was it effective?

Oppression and Exploitation

How did the control of the production and distribution of blues and jazz music further exploit black musicians?

Places and Activities

This program is flexible and can be offered in 5, or 7-day itineraries.

Day 1-2: Memphis Magic

Upon arrival in Memphis, TN, students will visit the “Home of the Blues”, a prominent stage during the Civil Rights Movement. There are explorations of the Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street and Sun Studio, and introducing students to the social justice issues surrounding blues.

Day 2-4: Mississippi Delta

Then travelling south through Mississippi, students will be visiting a plantation said to be the birthplace of blues. Delving into the impact of slavery and make connections to modern blues at Fat Possum Records.

Day 5-6: New Orleans Jazz

Spending the remainder of our program in New Orleans, exploring the oldest African American neighbourhoods and establishments in the country,
learning about activism in this region and the origins of jazz.

Day 7: Closing the Loops

A ‘ceremonial closing’ is held in the Congo Square, the birthplace of jazz. Students discuss how their experiences and learnings will influence their own perspectives on music, culture, and identity.

Let’s work together

“It was not only the good times with our friends or the relationships we built but how we were after we came back, returning to this agitated society with a new view of ourselves and not just our impact on the world, but the world’s impact on us.”

— Gabriela , Student, Deerfield Colombia 2014

“The Envoys Staff were exceptionally committed to us and to the goals of our trip. They were thoughtful, kind, caring, friendly, with great sense of humor, yet serious in their connection to the ethos of professional development that was our trip’s purpose. I was struck over and over again by how they literally RAN to be in the right place to respond to any given situation.”

— Constance , Traveling Faculty, Friends Seminary Colombia 2016

“We had an amazing program. It was a biology teacher’s dream and Felipe and his crew couldn’t have been more thorough and professional to work with. Thanks for all of your efforts to organize an unforgettable experience for us all.”

— Gerry , Traveling Faculty, LCC Colombia 2016