Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

The accusation of white appropriation of Black music is not a new one. How does this idea manifest over the course of the play? Pay particular attention to what Ma says about her recordings and Levee’s building tension over his songs.

Teaching Suggestion: To extend the discussion, consider providing the following information. Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton, and Bill Haley have all been accused of appropriating Black music without giving credit to the originators of their music. The controversy extends into rap and hip hop today, with such successful white rappers as Post Malone, Mac Miller, and Eminem. As students finish their discussion of musical appropriation in the play, you can broaden the topic by discussing whether this trend is a colonization of Black music, or if these artists give credit to Black art through imitation.

Differentiation Suggestion: Provide students with Venn diagrams to compare and contrast the thoughts and actions of Ma and Levee with regard to musical appropriation.