Ideas and Thoughts

I have a problem with choosing a topic for projects that are either too open or so specific that I cannot find enough research. I want to get a head start on choosing my topic for the class and I have a few ideas that I wanted to get out there just to hear some feedback! First, I thought about focusing on the Black Arts Movement, specifically on how traditional Africans cultures have influenced the art. It could be interesting to learn how traditional patterns, clothing, or textiles were resurfaced for the Black Power Movement and BAM. Artwork during the time must have seen some changes because of the social movements.

It would be especially interesting to me to research the literature published during the Black Power Movement. I could dive into the lives of the authors and their influences. For example, last semester we read A Raisin in the Sun, which debuted in 1959. I could find pieces of literature that portrayed realistic experiences of people of color. On the other hand, I could go in a different direction and pursue how the Black Power Movement influenced the music of the time. I was interested to learn about how gangster rap was received during the time, but it has changed that genre of music forever. The lyrics of rap spread as much of a message as speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. (maybe).

The more I think about it, the more I am interested in pursuing the literature route. I’m worried that it will not be easy to research, but there is still time to figure it out! I plan on going to grad school for library science once I graduate, and possibly become a literature professor further into the future. This research could be beneficial for the future!