African American Experience

Permanent URI for this collection

In order to provide a better reader experience, the interviews have been moved to the World War II: The African American Experience digital collection.

Supplementary materials for this digital collection are also available, including background information on the African American experience in World War II and a recording of the panel featuring African American veterans from Kansas and Missouri who shared their personal experiences and discussed the effect World War II had on their lives. This event was one of three programs in the series Fighting for America: Black Soldiers, the Unsung Heroes of WWII, made possible by the generosity of KU Professor Emerita Sandra Gautt.

A History of Music Education in the Black Community of Kansas City, Kansas, 1905-1954
(University of Minnesota, 1974-07) Buckner, Reginald Tyrone
This study is an attempt to define the historical development of music education in the black community of Kansas City, Kansas from 1905 to 1954. One aim of the study will be the identification of black music educators, both of private and public instruction, who are associated with black musical development. A second aim is to tract the content of music instruction in the black public schools during this period while the third aim identifies significant events associated with music educational development within the black community. Other questions for which answers will be sought are: 1. Where did the black music educators receive their teacher training? 2. How was the subject matter taught? Which part of comprehensive musicianship was emphasized? 3. Were current trends apparent in the music educational system operating within the black community? 4. What percentage of black students were affected by musical instruction? 5. What kind of interaction developed between music education and musical activities within the black community? 6. In what ways did racism affect music education? 7. Did this system produce outstanding students who contributed to the music and music education professions?