Soundscapes of Liberation: African American Music in Postwar France

Celeste Day Moore's book explores how African American music became popular in postwar France, giving it new meaning, value, and political power. It resonated with diverse Francophone audiences and transformed the lives and labor of African American musicians, who found success and discrimination in France.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2021
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her captivating book, "Soundscapes of Liberation," Celeste Day Moore delves into the captivating journey of African American music's widespread popularity in postwar France. This musical phenomenon not only signaled new forms of power and protest but also paved the way for a profound cultural transformation. Moore's comprehensive survey encompasses a diverse range of musical genres, soundscapes, and media, including wartime records and radio programs from the US military, catalogs of blues, jazz, and R&B recordings in France, translations of jazz memoirs, a provincial choir specializing in spirituals, and US State Department-produced radio programs that broadcast jazz and gospel across the French empire. Through her meticulous research, Moore uncovers the profound impact of individual intermediaries, such as educators, producers, writers, and radio deejays, who played a pivotal role in imbuing African American music with new meaning, value, and political power. Their work resonated with diverse Francophone audiences, transforming the lives and labor of many African American musicians who found both financial and personal success in France.

Moore's insightful analysis goes beyond the surface, revealing how the popularity of African American music was intricately intertwined with contemporary structures of racism and imperialism. By showcasing this music's central role in postwar France and the convergence of decolonization, the expanding globalized economy, the Cold War, and worldwide liberation movements, Moore underscores the profound significance of African American music in shaping the world during this transformative period.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in music, history, and the complex interplay between culture, power, and social change. It offers a rich and nuanced perspective on the global impact of African American music and its enduring legacy in shaping the world we live in today.

Weight: 578g
Dimension: 160 x 239 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478013761