Blacks, Blues, Black! Episode 4 [music]

Episode 4 of a 10-part TV series made by Dr. Maya Angelou for KQED in 1968 called Blacks Blues Black! which examines the influence of African American culture on modern American society. Includes scenes of Dr. Angelou in the studio discussing the function of music in Africa (used to communicate entertain and instruct) and how slavery influenced the evolution of African American spiritual music as an expression of faith. She also considers the inception of blues style music and the development of jazz singing herself and with performances by the Ken Bonsieh Quartet gospel singers The Heavenly Tones and the Jimmy Ed Trio. Note that at 30mins 30secs into this clip Dr. Angelou explains the significance of the series title 'Blacks Blues Black!'. This episode was written and produced by Dr. Maya Angelou and directed by Robert Hagopian. We'd like to thank KQED WNET and the Library of Congress for collaborating with the TV Archive in making this series available. WNET deposited 2-inch video masters of 'Blacks Blues Black!' with the Library of Congress. The Library's Recording Laboratory remastered these 2-inch tapes onto digital QuickTime masters and copyright holder KQED agreed to let us stream the compressed screener footage in DIVA. The TV Archive provided funding and coordination for this project.