Freedom's Cadence: Rhythm as a Practice of Freedom, Establishment of Community, And a Conduit of Hope

Abstract

Freedom’s Cadence seeks to investigate the overlapping pulse in Black expression that exposes transcendent qualities in Black dance, music, and visual art, championing embodied spirituality. Ultimately guided by the question, what is the role of rhythm in Black dance as it relates to redefining and reimagining black identity? Starting from an orthodox understanding of rhythm, Black music traditions became the foundation of this research and the resulting performance. Specifically, this paper examines Negro spirituals, blues, and House music. The structure of Black music is used to reveal what lies deep inside the expression of Black American culture, further analyzing Black Southern Baptist churches, jook joints, and House clubs as sacred spaces. The resulting dissonance, dysfluency, and disruption found in Black musical loops and movement make clear the importance of rhythm in Black lives. Allowing it to function as a practice of freedom, establishment of community, and a conduit of hope.