Alice Randall’s Class at Vanderbilt University Explores the History of Blacks in Country Music

alicerandallAlice Randall, the award-winning author, songwriter, and writer-in-residence in African American and diaspora studies at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, taught a three-hour weekly seminar this past semester entitled “African American Presence and Influence in Country Music.”

The class used mapping technology to trace the progress of African Americans in country music. “My students interviewed songwriters, producers, and musicians as they researched the African American presence in country music that began in the early 1900s all the way to the present,” Professor Randall said. “Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, the epicenter of Black presence and influence in country music past and present, providing unique opportunities for undergraduate field research on our campus.”

“Evolving mapping technology created an opportunity for students to easily organize materials in new and significant ways that suggest areas for future research and creative opportunities for music fans to use music as entry into understanding complexities of race, race representation, and racial erasure in America,” Randall added.

Alice Randall, a graduate of Harvard University, is the author of four novels including The Wind Done Gone (Houghton Mifflin, 2001), a parody of Gone With the Wind.

Related Articles

1 COMMENT

  1. This information refers to the African-American country singer/musician Gennie Ruth Cheatham. Gennie Ruth has performed country gospel and bluegrass gospel music since age three. Gennie Ruth is formally trained as a classical pianist and performs country gospel/bluegrass gospel world wide. She is a phenomenal songwriter She has a Bachelor’ s and Masters Degree in Music Education; Master of Education; Doctor of Education; and Doctor of Ministry.She continues to and minister, and lives in the suburb of Memphis, TN. Undoubtedly one of the greatest country artist that has ever lived. She is the world’s best kept secret.

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs