Elvis Presley and African-American Music Persuasive Essay by Top Papers

The paper argues that no modern-day American entertainer - certainly no entertainer of his time - brought together whites and blacks in quite the same way. The paper looks at how Presley popularized both rhythm and blues and the on-stage idiosyncrasies of at least one African-American stage performer who would otherwise be lost to the mists of time. Beyond that, this paper notes that the Southern Pentecostal tradition - a staple of both black and white life in the Deep South - was brought into the mainstream by Presley and, in many respects, can be considered a classic instance of how this one entertainer was able to bridge deep racial divides in American society. The paper further asserts that his ability to bring African-American musical culture to the white masses is a prime reason why he deserves such a lofty position.