Why is Country Music White?

The creation of musical genres involves many variables that are tied to class, religion and most importantly race. In the example of country music however one can clearly see that race is a huge aspect due to the fact that a majority of its artists are mostly white along with a predominantly white audience.  As the historian James Cobb explains in his definition of the genre, “Country music has a mythical and historical connection to rural Southern white culture.(Cobb,2005)” Consequently, the “Southern white culture” part of country music has created a set of traits that makes up a typical “country singer” which ultimately ties into the characteristics incorporated with the image of a white male southerner. Since these were the constructed variables that made up a “typical” country singer, many Black Country singers have challenged this notion by incorporating themselves within the genre proving that country music does not discriminate against any race.

One these musical revolutionaries includes Charley Pride who became one of the most successful artists in the country music industry. Pride proved to his critics that he could incorporate many parts of Southern life into his songs representing all parts of Southern racial identities. For Charley Pride, country music also represented the spirit of the south which was not limited to one type of people or race. In the article entitled, Interview: Darius Rucker and blacks in country music, modern day Black Country singer Darious Rucker reflects this belief stating, “There are also countless black country artists’ male and female touring smaller circuits and working to change country’s reputation as a repository of white, rural conservatism.”


Fully aware of the racial issues faced within the south; these individuals have diversified the country music industry countering the constructed stereotypes that limits non- white southerners involved within the genre. Furthermore, to claim that country is the music of white people has created a historical controversy because the genre in its self contains the musical influences of African’s that were enslaved in the south.  In an attempt to defend this argument, Clara Staton states  in Why is Country Music so White?, “Today, country’s African American legacy is seen through the instruments still played, as well as the style of music itself, which harkens back to the black fiddlers from slave times and other black musicians over the years today.” Staton even goes on to argue that the banjo which is used in country originated in West Africa becoming one of the key ingredients in the melting pot of southern Music.  In the images below one see the similarity between the two banjos’ that are represented. The first image is of a West African slave in the 1800’s while the other image is more of a modern day representation of the banjo.  Through all these examples, Black Country singers are thriving within the country music industry amidst the numerous racist hardships that they face from agents and producers(Cobb,2005). Currently, Black Country singers still have a harder time getting record deals than their white counterparts which has influenced artists like Darius Rucker to challenge the obstacles of fitting into an “authentic country singer” in order to succeed.

              http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/tasteofcountry.com/files/2012/05/dd.jpg        

Works Cited

Spaulding, James C. Cobb B. Phinizy. Away Down South: A History of Southern Identity: A History of Southern Identity. Oxford University Press, 2005.

Staton, Clara. ‘Why is Country Music White” http://writingfromthecracks.wordpress.com/contents/clara-shelton/

 John Wenzel | September 3rd, 2009  Interview: Darius Rucker and blacks in country music http://www.heyreverb.com/blog/2009/09/03/interview-darius-rucker-and-blacks-in-country-music/7051/