Many Black Mountains of Music Singing through the Verse of Affrilachian Poets

I would love to present research on collections and individual poems by members of the Affrilachian Poets that show a connection to a different type of Appalachian music, some might call Affrilachian music. This paper will focus on two collections: Hellfightin’ by Makalani Bandele, which references jazz music all throughout the collection; and Cooling Board: A Long Playing Poem by Mitchell L.H. Douglas, a book of poetry about the musical relationship between Donnie Hathaway and Roberta Flack. The paper will also look to poems with connections to jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, funk, and hip hop music from other members of the Affrilachian Poets. An underpinning of this research will show the different influences of Affrilachian writers and Appalachian writers, highlighting the racial problems facing Appalachia, and the continuing white-washed image of the region and her people. In addition to presenting my research in an extemporaneous manner, I will play short audio selections of musicians the artists are writing about. The audience should take away an understanding of some of the musical influences of the Affrilachian Poets, as well as an introduction to many Appalachian musicians and musical genres not typically considered “Appalachian.