Fresh Air Episode Summary: "What The Color Blue Tells About Black History"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Fresh Air
• Host: Tonya Moseley
• Guest: Imani Perry, Henry A. Morse Jr. and Elizabeth W. Morse Professor of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University.
• Episode Title: What The Color Blue Tells About Black History
• Release Date: January 28, 2025

Introduction

In this enlightening episode of Fresh Air, host Tonya Moseley engages in an in-depth conversation with scholar and author Imani Perry about her latest book, "Black and How a Color Tells the Story of My People." Perry's work intricately weaves the significance of the color blue into the fabric of Black history, exploring its literal and metaphorical manifestations in art, culture, and societal structures.

Exploring the Essence of Blue in Black Identity

Reading from the Book: Perry opens the discussion by reading a poignant passage from her book:

“The truth is this black as such began ennobly through conquering eyes... Blue was a color that had grace and elegance... they are powerful blues and they were also elegant blues and beautiful blues.”
[01:51] Imani Perry

Discussion on Blue and Blackness: Perry elaborates on how the color blue intersects with Black identity, drawing parallels between the emotional depth of blues music and the multifaceted nature of blackness. She explains that blue encapsulates both joy and melancholy, serving as a universal color that resonates deeply within the Black community.

“The way the sound of my people coming out of the deep south... creating beauty at the very site of wound.”
[03:24] Imani Perry

The Blue Note: Bridging Music and Identity

Understanding "Blue Note": The conversation delves into the musical term "blue note," which Perry explains as a subtle alteration in pitch that adds emotional depth to music. This concept serves as a metaphor for the nuanced experiences of Black Americans.

“The blue note really is like that. And it is something that you are attuned to. You can hear.”
[06:06] Imani Perry

Louis Armstrong’s Interpretation: Perry discusses Louis Armstrong’s 1951 rendition of "What Did I Do to Be So Black and Blue," highlighting how Armstrong transformed the song into a commentary on racial identity and societal expectations.

“The song actually is able to encapsulate all of those dimensions with these rather simple sentences... it's about all of that.”
[10:35] Imani Perry

Sartorial Choices: Blue as a Statement

Historical Significance of Blue Attire: Moseley references historical figures such as Coretta Scott King and Jackie Robinson, noting their deliberate choice of blue attire. Perry argues that these sartorial choices are more than coincidental, symbolizing power, elegance, and a statement of identity.

“Blue is a color that certainly had a kind of grace and elegance... they were powerful blues and they were also elegant blues and beautiful blues.”
[17:32] Imani Perry

Indigo and the Slave Trade: Perry delves into the history of indigo, a blue dye that played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade. She recounts how indigo cultivation was integral to the economy of plantations and its impact on the perception and treatment of Black individuals.

“Indigo is very hard to cultivate. It stinks. It makes you sick... it's something about what it meant for black people to be racialized as such.”
[25:51] Imani Perry

Blue and Authority: From Union Soldiers to Police Uniforms

Historical Context of "Boys in Blue": Perry traces the evolution of the term "boys in blue," initially referring to Union soldiers during the Civil War. She explains how blue uniforms later became emblematic of police forces, reflecting a complex and often fraught relationship between Black Americans and authority.

“The American dream is universal. I think that dream is of a castle of security that exists inside the palace gate.”
[22:09] Imani Perry

Blue Lives Matter: The discussion touches on the contemporary "Blue Lives Matter" movement, which Perry critiques as a backlash against Black Lives Matter. She emphasizes the historical continuity of tension between police forces and Black communities.

“It's not as though that was sort of something new that emerged in the Black Lives Matter era. You can look at newspapers 100 years ago that depict the difficult relationship between black people and police forces.”
[22:15] Imani Perry

Artistic Flourishing Amidst Adversity

1980s Black Art Movement: Perry highlights the resurgence of Black art in the 1980s, a period marked by political backlash and economic challenges. She describes how both hip-hop and literature flourished as forms of expression and resistance, with blue serving as a recurring motif.

“Blue appears frequently in that work. But it's also just this remarkable period, even as there is this full scale attack on... that work is so resilient.”
[35:10] Imani Perry

Contemporary Challenges in Academia

Facing Conservative Backlash: Reflecting on her role as a professor, Perry discusses the current climate in higher education where studies on women, gender, sexuality, and Black American experiences are under threat from conservative factions. She draws strength from historical figures who persevered under similar adversities.

“I am standing in a tradition of people who did extraordinary work under adverse conditions.”
[37:39] Imani Perry

Personal Reflections and Legacy

Writing as a Means of Understanding: Perry shares her personal journey in writing the book, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the discourse on Black history and identity. She views writing as a way to make sense of the world and leave a lasting legacy.

“Writing the book has really been a personal gift, and I'm just deeply hoping that it feels that way to my readers as well.”
[42:17] Imani Perry

Closing Thoughts: Perry reads a reflective passage from her book that encapsulates her complex relationship with American identity and Blackness.

“I am very much an American, and that is an uneasy title for me... My blackness is a conduit. But my Americanness is so often a betrayal of that connection with others. This is my blues.”
[40:54] Imani Perry

Conclusion

In this episode, Imani Perry offers a profound exploration of how the color blue serves as a lens to understand Black history, identity, and resilience. Her analysis bridges historical events, cultural expressions, and personal narratives, providing listeners with a rich and nuanced perspective on the interplay between color and race.

Notable Quotes:

• “The sound of the blues can act as a means of curing the blues... it has this movement through the spectrum of emotions, this deeply human sensibility to it.”
  [03:24] Imani Perry

• “The blue note really is like that. And it is something that you are attuned to.”
  [06:06] Imani Perry

• “Our ancestors chose blue as a way of communicating a message to the world and asserting something about ourselves.”
  [17:32] Imani Perry

• “There is a repetition of suffering. And, of course, also a repetition of people trying to figure out how not only to make do, but to live in profound and meaningful ways.”
  [31:17] Imani Perry

• “We are no monolith. This is my blues.”
  [40:54] Imani Perry

This episode serves as a compelling narrative that intertwines color theory with historical and contemporary Black experiences, offering listeners a deeper understanding of the symbolic and actual significance of blue in Black history.