Writing Analysis

1) What is Davis’ larger argument about the blues political function as a distinctly working-class discourse of black womanhood? What was blues music’s relationship to notions of middle-class respectability, and why was it significant? 

2) How do you see the historical and political context of blues music arising in this week’s listening selections?

3) Davis argues that the blues offered a community space where women could give and receive advise about how to navigate their relationships with men. Please cite a specific moment you see this happening in this week’s listening assignment and discuss it using a quote from Davis’ essay.