Reform to Ragtime
During the 1800s Blacks moved from a life of slavery to a free people in 1865. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution declared that
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall be duly convicted, shall exist within the Unites States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
Formally abolishing slavery in the United States, the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865. Although the law declared them free, this new community of men, women and children did not experience a life free from prejudice.
Even though African Americans were free, their lives were still filled with
turmoil. The Jim Crow Laws, designed to be separate but equal, promoted
segregation which forced Blacks and Whites to remain separate and inadvertently incited racism. In other words, African Americans were forced to eat, drink and play music away from Whites. Black clubs, restaurants and meeting places sprang up in towns and cities.
Ragtime was developed by African Americans in 1898. This new genre, featuring a syncopated rhythm, grew out of the combination of White music expressed in Black style, European-American influence and traditional African heritage music.
African Americans played this music in spite of what they were called and how they were treated in the streets. African Americans used ragtime to send the message, "We are here, we deserve the rights you have, and we are willing to fight for our equal share in life."
In 1920 this message got through to the American government and people started to open their eyes to the reality of racism. They decided that enough was enough. This is when Ragtime started to work its way into society and how it would later evolve into the modern jazz we have today.
In 1920 this message got through to the American government and people started to open their eyes to the reality of racism. They decided that enough was enough. This is when Ragtime started to work its way into society and how it would later evolve into the modern jazz we have today.