Migrations: The Great Migration

The musical traditions of the Great Migration of African Americans from the South to the industrialized cities of the Northeast, Midwest, and West during the early 20th century up to the 1970s are featured. Nicholas Payton traces the path of African rhythms from the Caribbean to New Orleans, Kansas City, Chicago, and New York, while Deva Mahal puts her modern edge on soul music. There’s also a program, curated by Jason Moran and Alicia Hall Moran, that explores a continuum of music that changed the sound of America forever.

The history of America is indelibly linked to the movement of people. Some were brought here not of their own free will, and their perseverance and resilience transformed the nation. Others came here—or moved within the borders of this country—because they sought a new life, free from poverty, discrimination, and persecution. The many contributions—cultural, social, and political—of these migrations, and the people who helped to build this country and what it means to be American, are honored in Carnegie Hall’s festival Migrations: The Making of America.

Carnegie Hall examines the musical legacies of three migrations: the crossings from Scotland and Ireland during the 18th and 19th centuries, the immigration of Jews from Russia and Eastern Europe between 1881 and the National Origins Act of 1924, and the Great Migration—the exodus of African Americans from the South to the industrialized cities of the Northeast, Midwest, and West from 1917 into the 1970s.

With performances of bluegrass, old-time, klezmer, Yiddish musical theater, blues, jazz, and more, Carnegie Hall celebrates the American musical traditions that flourished as a result of these migrations.

[bluesdoggmusicrediker]

came here because of my love of blues music!!

[eddieoconnor]

The statement made from 3:42 to 3:51 pretty much says it all. And this is why America is great as a country, not because of its separation, and discriminations, but because of the "melting pot" that blends together Irish heritage, Polish heritage, German, Spanish, Asian, African, French, Latin American, all of the cultures of the various peoples that have come to live here, and have "infused" some of their culture into America, So when I hear people say things like "Make America Great Again"?..I feel pity for them, for they somehow think America herself has lost her greatness, this is not the case, its just the greed, bigotry, and corruption that has caused people to view her that way, but America has now....and always WILL be a great country, regardless of whether or not there are corrupt officials doing things illegally, that doesn't change the fact that America, and for the most part?...most of her citizens are God-fearing, upright individuals who will almost always "do the right thing"....for themselves....for their neighbors....for total strangers for this country. I for one?..am proud and thankful that I was born and raised here, and I can think of no other place I'd rather call "Home".


God Bless America.