The Story of the Guitar of Congo Square: Episode 4

The Writers Interview: For this podcast episode I’ve decided to play for you an interview I did in New Orleans a few weeks ago for the Writers Forum. It is a radio program out of New Orleans hosted by author Michael Tusa. I will read passages from my book and share why I decided to write what I call the first history of blues. Midway through the interview, Michael asks me was there a revelation or a surprising person or event during my research. I was shocked to learn that Eugenics was foundational to folk-blues. Racist eugenicists believed Blacks to be inferior, primitive, Noble savages. This eugenic criterion for blues authenticity is still prevalent when judging Blacks in blues.