This week the open threads will highlight six elements that illustrate country music's roots in African-American history. There is a total lack of black artists in country music today, except for Darius Rucker, Cowboy Troy, and Charley Pride. The truth is that the roots of American country run black, and the key artists that built country music couldn’t have done so … [Read more...] about Monday Open Thread: The Blackness of Country Music
Arts and Culture
Saturday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Albert Pierce Evans (December 29, 1968 – June 22, 2015) was an American ballet dancer. He began his ballet training at Terpsichore Expressions in his native Atlanta and was awarded a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet in 1986. … [Read more...] about Saturday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Friday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Janet Collins (March 7, 1917 – May 28, 2003) was a ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She performed on Broadway, in films, and appeared frequently on television. She was among the pioneers of black ballet dancing, one of the few classically trained Black dancers of her generation. Collins was 10 when she started taking private lessons at a Catholic Community Center. … [Read more...] about Friday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Thursday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Raven Wilkinson (born November 2, 1935) is an American dancer who is credited with being the first African-American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company. Wilkinson broke the color barrier in 1955 when she signed a contract to dance full-time with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She was promoted to soloist during her second season with the troupe, and remained … [Read more...] about Thursday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Wednesday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Mel Alexander Tomlinson (born January 3, 1954) is an American dancer and choreographer. At the time of his debut with the New York City Ballet in 1981, he was the only African-American dancer in the company. Ballet choreographer Agnes de Mille referred to Tomlinson as "the most exciting black dancer in America." … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers