Introduction

"Tant que sur la Terre, il restera un Homme pour chanter,

il nous sera encore permis d'espérer" Gabriel Celaya 

           Music was born by the meeting of many musical European style. Particularly spirit and sensibility of African music. It responded to a succession of expression and musical style and didn't present characteristc known nowadays. Today music has a very important place in our society. Each time is dependent on relationships between music and society. This artistic movement has the power to weld populations. The inferiority of the black population has always been considered as a natural and legitimate slavery. Indeed, at the beggining of the last century the black peoplewere considered as a sub-race only good to demeaing housework. Slavery will have serious and irreversible consequence on music's history. A civil war between north and south permitter abolition of the harsh slavery and racial segregation, their autonomy, to assert their difference and their pride. Blues, Gospel, Spirituals, Jazz, Rythm'n'Blues, Soul, Funk, Rock'n'roll...music highlights moments of Black community's history. Crucial moments that determined the place of black people in our collective unconscious, a prominent place. Essential, universal ! Their songs and dances, and probably some instruments link with their religion, were born from their memory and their necessity to cling to their beliefs and ancestral expression.

          And it's gradually that they succeed to have their place in the American society, and the main way was music. Michael Jackson, Cesaria Evora, Marvin Gay, Billie Holiday, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Myriam Makeba, Ourn Kalsoun... All of those American artists marked history of twentieth's popular music. Today, they share a common heritage, beyong countries and communities who see them start. Now they lead the main part of musical style. The Black History is a part of the common domain of humanity. It proves that peopleof African heritage have made lasting contributions to society throughout history. "I have a dream that one day on the red hills og Georgie, children of former slavesand children of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.". This is a quote that shows ideas of Black people during the sixties. At that moment, the whole American society encounters a great disruption; ethnic and racial minorities ask for equal right. They claim integration and rights to the difference. They can count on White liberal people who think that a democratic society cannot accept inequality and racism. Black people who have African origins but lives in United States, and born of slavery or immigration of the American Dream face the harsh lawsog the US. Constitution that will generate economic and social inequalities. Indeed the citizens of black race haven't the same rights as citizens of the white race. Therefore, African-Americans are the origin for the cause of their community. These are the events that cause the emergence of "the Negro question" in the daily life of the United Sates.

         See wich way the African succeed to this supremacy. the purpose of this study is therefore to show how black music gave rhythm to the fight of black Americans for their emancipation over almost two centuries from the cotton fields of the Deep South to the White House. Worksongs to the Rap.