The Importance of Lyrics on the 1970’s - Present

Presenter: Citlali Rangel

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 19-20

Semester: Spring

Department: American Multicultural Studies

Funding Source/Sponsor: SYRCE Symposium

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1ywkJ6Vv8GuqJcxZZaDaPSU_R5kP40oTm

Abstract:
My topic is literature from the 1970’s by African American poets or writers. I am interested in this topic mainly because I am attracted to lyrics and the meaning that comes from why it was written. I am passionate about the consistency shown which keeps me from following the work that represents the struggles and obstacles overcome. Poets and musicians are the forerunners of modern rap and hip hop. This is because their writing expresses feelings and emotions that are difficult to be verbally talked about. The popular language most writers use helps the audience enjoy and understand their lyrics. Furthermore, the historical significance of 1970’s African American poems and songs are the strong revolutionary verses that were written for performing arts. 

The aspect of the Black Culture in the 1970’s that I will explore is poetry. The poetry of the 1970’s changed many because they were politically and power driven. Many wrote revolutionary verses that were performed live. The performances included instruments and a large group. Because of the revolutionary poems and musicians, they became predecessors of hip hop and modern rap. For example, a change during the 1970s was the fight women were going up against, which was for equal treatment and civil rights. This was because rarely any of the work provided by female artists was unrepresented. In other words, it was not nominated for any awards or recognition, it was looked at as not worth competing with.