Written by: Matthew Orquia, Lesieli Savelio, and Kathy Zelidon
The Accent recently published a poll on its Instagram story asking followers to share the names of some of their favorite Black cultural and historical figures who aren’t talked about enough.
Gabriella Schlueter (gabby_s4), a sophomore music major, sent in multiple names, one of which was Florence Price.
In 1933, Florence Beatrice Price launched her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the first time a symphonic composition by a Black woman was played by a major orchestra. Price continued to create hundreds of works, including “symphonies, concerti, works for choir, chamber ensemble, organ, solo works, and extensive pieces for piano,” according to the Opera Philadelphia website.
However, Price’s career had humble beginnings. With the onset of Jim Crow laws, Price joined the “Great Migration,” relocating to Chicago along with numerous other Black Americans. Despite the challenges she faced, including a divorce that left her financially strained, Price persevered for herself and her family.
(Photo sourced from Wikimedia Commmons)
She found work composing music for radio advertisements and performing in silent films before eventually moving in with the Bonds, a family with connections to prominent Black intellectuals and artists. She then wrote compositions and collaborated with singers and activists such as Langston Hughes and Marion Anderson.
After her death in 1953, a large portion of her music was unknown to the public due to the long-held preference for “white, European traditionalism” in classical spaces. But then, in the 2000s, a discovery of Price’s hidden scores in an abandoned retreat home caused a resurgence of her music among classical fans. Her music, a unique blend of traditional and modern elements, spirituality and reflections on racial experiences, firmly establishes her as a musician deeply rooted in American culture.
Tina Duncan (itsjus.tina), a sophomore medical laboratory science major, wrote: “Chronixx: He’s a Jamaican reggae artist. His lyrics are clean and profound. His lyrics embody Jamaican culture, and discuss controversial issues.”
Also known as Jamar Rolando McNaughton, Chronixx was born in 1992 and wrote his first song at age 5. After growing in popularity in the early 2010s and touring the United Kingdom, he released his extended play (EP) Dread & Terrible in 2014. This EP topped Billboard’s Top Reggae Albums chart and continued to see success after Chronixx went on the Jimmy Fallon Show. His concert in Central Park was attended by more than 5,000 people. At the 2014 Linkage awards, Chronixx won Culture Artist of the Year, Best New Artist and Entertainer of the Year. Chronology, his first album, was released in 2017 and was nominated for a Grammy.
Emily Lyngaas (emilyng_art), a former Southern student, wrote: “Yasuke!!! The first black and foreign samurai!! His story is really interesting and noble! He was a slave to a European traveler and ended up a really high ranking samurai who was respected.”
Yasuke was a historical figure who is believed to be the first African to have reached Japan during the 16th century. He was a samurai of African origin who served under the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga during Japan’s Sengoku period (15th to 17th centuries), a time of intense civil war and political upheaval. Not much is known about Yasuke’s early life or how he came to Japan. It is speculated that he may have been originally from Mozambique or another African region. He arrived in Japan in 1579 as a retainer or bodyguard of the Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano, who was visiting Nobunaga’s court.
Yasuke’s remarkable appearance, towering stature and dark skin fascinated Nobunaga, who reportedly believed him to be a servant colored in ink. Nobunaga took an interest in Yasuke and eventually appointed him as a samurai. Yasuke fought alongside Nobunaga in various battles and skirmishes, including the siege of Nagashima in 1579. He became a trusted warrior in Nobunaga’s service and earned respect for his bravery and loyalty.
After Nobunaga’s death in 1582, Yasuke served under Nobunaga’s successor, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. However, his fate beyond this point is uncertain. There are conflicting accounts and legends about Yasuke’s later life, with some stories suggesting that he returned to Africa or lived out his days in obscurity in Japan.
Yasuke’s story has captured the imagination of many and has been the subject of numerous books, films and other media. He remains a symbol of the fascinating connections between Africa and Japan during a tumultuous period in both regions’ histories.
