Reggae's Influence On American Culture

Culture often serve as lens into the historical and contemporary life of a society. Through analyzing a series of music, film, and literature of a culture, we will not only capture the raise of a civilization, but also gain a better understanding of the cultural impact that influenced the present. In countries such as Brazil and Jamaica that faced similar oppression and struggle, from long periods of slavery, to poverty, to oppressive regime, it is no surprise that both of these countries gained confidence and harmony through music. By analyzing the music that has evolved over decades, we can see that both of these countries shared a common message in their music, resistance.

This function of music can take on many forms, one of them is story telling. Music signifies our historical root and our background; every song has a meaning and tells us a story. As civilizations evolve and grow, so does the type of the music. Both Brazil and Jamaica developed a unique sound to convey their everyday struggles. In Jamaica, reggae was the epitome of protest music, a message of liberation. Throughout the history of Jamaica, reggae music and lyrics have increased both in politically and revolutionary. For example, in the 1970s, reggae was viewed an expression of those who were among the working class,

Reggae brings the message of the streets into the public to be heard. Jamaica’s reggae in its purest form is to be free from the shackle of opposition that commoners face everyday. The tales of constant fight against joblessness, hunger, and lack of opportunity can often be heard in the music. In Brazil, they combat this lack of opportunity, hunger, and opposition through Favela Samba. The black community prided themselves on getting the festivities together for Samba Carnival. As such, both countries defy opposition by ultimately expressing themselves through the use of