Talkin’ Bout a Revolution(ary): The Music and Politics of Tracy Chapman

ABSTRACT The field of folklore in general, but specifically, Africana folklore studies can be enriched by greater analyses of Black female contributions. In this article, I position folk music as the primary interest and chosen location to acknowledge Black women’s participation from beyond the margins. My inquiry reveals folk music as a lens into the myriad ways Black women have translated vernacular traditions to deconstruct the master narrative and interrogate societal norms. Specifically, this article examines how Tracy Chapman appropriated the folk esthetic as a strategic discursive space for politically conscious creative expression.