Each note that Jake Blount plays on the banjo is a step toward helping his audience better understand a piece of Black history he believes has been lost.
The banjo is not exclusive to one musical style, but today it is largely associated with country and bluegrass. Two genres that have struggled with diversity.The banjo is deeply rooted in African American tradition.
Blount performed more than 120 shows last year. He travels the country playing music and teaching people how the banjo became a key part of American culture. But Blount and other scholars, including those at the Smithsonian, say it's important people know how the banjo gained widespread popularity. Around the time when slavery came to an end, white performers used the banjo as a centerpiece in racist shows.
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