Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences

Our Purpose

Most forms of authentic American music are rooted in Black music of some kind. Black Gospel music – a result of the merging of American Christianity and the music brought to America by Black Africans of the Diaspora – is particularly linked to many of the social and cultural movements in the state of Arkansas. Because of the historical racial tension in the Delta region, Gospel music has served to influence the lives of Black Arkansans for centuries. Historically, however, the performance of most music of African origin has traditionally been deemed ineligible for quality academic study. In modern music programs, there is a growing trend among educators to work toward effectively including all genres of music in the educational setting. The National Standards of Music Education and the National Core Arts Standards mandate that music educators teach music relative to history and culture, and that singing and playing instruments—whether alone or with others—encompasses a varied repertoire of music. The University of Arkansas Center for Black Music is a collaboration between the Department of Music and the African and African American Studies Program.