From Negro Expression to Black Performance: The Evolution of Black American Culture

Jerriona Leonard Professor Harris ENGL 2017 22 April 2026 From Negro Expression to Black Performance: The Evolution of Black American Culture In the text, “From 'Negro Expression' to 'Black Performance,'” DeFrantz and Gonzalez explore how “Negro Expression” evolved into “Black Performance” as a broader and more self-defined creative space. From pre-enslavement to now, Black expression has grown and changed: the way Black people identify, our music and dance, our spiritual identity, and our fashion. I created 4 colleges to demonstrate this concept: one for culture and spirituality, two for music and dance, and one to highlight Black fashion. The music and dance collages highlight how music and dance function as foundational forms of Black performance. From early pre-enslavement rhythmic traditions and instruments to contemporary styles like hip hop and social dance, music and choreography are an expression of identity, resistance, and joy. DeFrantz and Gonzalez’s idea of “performance” is seen in these spaces, showing that Black expression is not just entertainment but a lived, embodied practice shaped by history and innovation for many years. My spirituality collage reflects how Black performance has been deeply rooted in sacred spiritual and religious expression. Spiritual practices such as Hoodoo, African spirituality, Christian traditions, call-and-response traditions, and ritualized movement show that performance is also a form of healing and survival. Spirituality directly aligns with Black culture because it influences the way we have behaved, dressed, and handled situations over time. This aligns with DeFrantz and Gonzalez’s framing of Black Performance as something that extends beyond stage spaces and into our lived cultural and spiritual experiences. Our spirituality has evolved as a part of our Black Expression, and has become even more diverse and unique to us. Fashion is another form of Black performance that communicates identity, creativity, and resistance. From head scarves and flowing dresses to streetwear and expressive styling in music culture, clothing becomes a visual language that challenges dominant norms and asserts individuality. Fashion can now be freely expressed in ways it couldn’t during slavery. In this way, fashion, like music and dance, contributes to the broader expansion of Black Performance as a dynamic and self-defined cultural expression. Black Expression is the evolution of Negro Expression, and is a testimony of Black freedom after many efforts towards advancement. Together, these collages show how Black performance exists across multiple forms of expression that are interconnected, evolving, and deeply rooted in cultural history.