The Role of Women in Gospel
As history will still live on, the era in which gospel music had it’s first rise to fame will be one that can be considred untouched. From those who earned their fame, especially women, and to music hits that will live on to be everlasting. The culture of Gospel music isn’t charming due to the way it sounds but it is the way it is due to the ways it can move a person’s soul. It had power that could help someone find themselves personally. Ever since there were folk spirituals that have kept African American ancestors in happy spirits. There was many things that came from being around this form of music and one thing is that it brought everyone together in celebration and no matter the location of the event, gospel music made everything very comunal. Meaning, it brought many people together to bond in ways that isn’t really seen throughout other styles of music. In it’s earlier stages of being created, the group that held prominent through this transformation have been the women who were associated with it. In the earlier beginnings when there was stars such as Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, Rosetta Tharpe, and many more. When they began their respective careers, there were social events such as “The Roaring 20's” that was also prominent during the time in which it was a time period where women began a sudden rise to fame as the visual for a “typical” woman changed. They were considered to be more outgoing and some may even say they played a “sexy” role during this time. Music was just another quick way for women to takeover their time. With hit songs such as Mahalia Jackson’s version of Thomas Dorsey’s “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” is just a glimpse of how strong and powerful the genre was in itself. With the ability to connect people in a way that normal societies cannot connect themselves goes to show the power it held. The emphasis that is put out goes to show audiences the strength it took not only for people, but women in general to push through and earn what they wanted out of life.
