RESEARCH STARTER

Soul as a concept

The concept of "soul" holds significant cultural weight, particularly within the Black American community, where it embodies notions of authenticity and pride in Black identity. Initially associated with the cultural expressions of lower-class Black Americans, particularly in urban areas, the term "soul" encompasses various aspects of life, including language, humor, religion, and cuisine. It gained prominence during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, as Black nationalists encouraged a celebration of Black culture and heritage. In music, "soul" is often linked to a specific genre that merges gospel influences with rhythm and blues, characterized by raw and emotive vocals, as seen in the works of artists like Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin. The twenty-first century has seen a resurgence of this concept, with contemporary artists reinterpreting soul music for modern audiences and the term being utilized in movements like Black Lives Matter to signify resilience. Additionally, soul food has evolved, integrating healthier ingredients while honoring traditional recipes, reflecting a broader dialogue about health in the community. Overall, the concept of soul represents a dynamic and evolving expression of Black identity and culture.

Full Article

For Black Americans, the term “soul” is positively associated with expressions of Black cultural identity. The term “soul” came to be applied especially to the culture—slang, humor, religion, food—in historically segregated urban Black communities. The idea of soul was also related to the Black nationalism that emerged from the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Black nationalists urged Black Americans to take pride in Black culture. Sociologist Ulf Hannerz, writing in 1970, observed that soul was a kind of folk conception of Black American national character.

Some music scholars and critics use the term “soul music” to refer to all Black American popular music produced in the 1960s and early 1970s. Most critics, however, use the term more precisely to refer to a particular genre of Black American music that combined gospel-derived vocals with rhythm and blues. These vocals, described by critics as grainy, gritty, hoarse, or rasping, led critics to see this music as more authentically Black than, for example, the Black American music being produced at Motown Records. Some highlight the stylistic differences, claiming Motown deliberately smoothed out vocals to appeal to White audiences. Soul recording artists included Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Aretha Franklin.

In the twenty-first century, the concept of “soul” continued to evolve. Musically, contemporary artists like Anderson .Paak, Leon Bridges, and Lianne La Havas have revitalized soul music by taking traditional forms and adding modern production techniques and themes. The concept of soul has been referenced in the Black Lives Matter movement as a marker of the reliance of the Black community in the face of ongoing challenges. The Internet and social media platforms have helped spread the idea of soul, which has expanded to include Black identities of diverse backgrounds. Soul food has also undergone a renaissance with healthier ingredients to reflect conversations about health and wellness in the Black community. Celebrations of soul culture—including music, food, and community festivals— have continued to flourish as living traditions, with events like the 2024 Taste of Soul festival drawing tens of thousands and showcasing the ongoing vibrancy of Black cultural expression. New scholarship and cultural discourse also recognize emerging identity concepts like Soulaan, which emphasize historical continuity and ancestral roots as part of evolving Black cultural self‑description in the United States.


Bibliography

Allen, Candace. Soul Music: The Pulse of Race and Music. Gibson Square, 2012, pp. 849–51.

Brooks, Daphne A. "How #BlackLivesMatter Started a Musical Revolution." The Guardian, 13 Mar. 2016, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/13/black-lives-matter-beyonce-kendrick-lamar-protest. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Brooks de Vita, Alexis. "Soul Music." In Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture, edited by Carole Boyce Davies, ABC-CLIO, 2008.

"Echoes of the Past: 15 Albums Reviving the Golden Age of Soul." Album of the Year, www.albumoftheyear.org/user/hardfeelngs/list/251165/echoes-of-the-past-15-albums-reviving-the-golden-age-of-soul/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Henderson, Laretta. "'Ebony Jr!' and 'Soul Food': The Construction Of Middle-Class African American Identity through the use of Traditional Southern Foodways." Melus, vol. 32, no. 4, 2007, pp. 81–97.

Peartree, Millie. “Everything You Need To Know About Soul Food, According To Chef Millie Peartree.” Delish, 26 Jan. 2024, www.delish.com/food-news/a26356466/what-is-soul-food. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Rudinow, Joel. Soul Music: Tracking the Spiritual Roots of Pop from Plato to Motown. U of Michigan P, 2010.

“Soulaan — The Breakthrough Ethnonym That Has Taken Over Social Media.” Yahoo Finance, 25 Sept. 2025, finance.yahoo.com/news/soulaan-breakthrough-ethnonym-taken-over-150000369.html. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

"Taste of Soul Festival 2024". America’s Black Holocaust Museum, 19 Oct. 2024, www.abhmuseum.org/events/taste-of-soul-festival-2023/. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

“Timeline of African American Music - Mid-1960s-Mid-1970s - Soul.” Carnegie Hall, timeline.carnegiehall.org/genres/soul. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Witt, Doris. Black Hunger: Soul Food and America. U of Minnesota P, 2004.

Full Article

For Black Americans, the term “soul” is positively associated with expressions of Black cultural identity. The term “soul” came to be applied especially to the culture—slang, humor, religion, food—in historically segregated urban Black communities. The idea of soul was also related to the Black nationalism that emerged from the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s. Black nationalists urged Black Americans to take pride in Black culture. Sociologist Ulf Hannerz, writing in 1970, observed that soul was a kind of folk conception of Black American national character.

Some music scholars and critics use the term “soul music” to refer to all Black American popular music produced in the 1960s and early 1970s. Most critics, however, use the term more precisely to refer to a particular genre of Black American music that combined gospel-derived vocals with rhythm and blues. These vocals, described by critics as grainy, gritty, hoarse, or rasping, led critics to see this music as more authentically Black than, for example, the Black American music being produced at Motown Records. Some highlight the stylistic differences, claiming Motown deliberately smoothed out vocals to appeal to White audiences. Soul recording artists included Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and Aretha Franklin.

In the twenty-first century, the concept of “soul” continued to evolve. Musically, contemporary artists like Anderson .Paak, Leon Bridges, and Lianne La Havas have revitalized soul music by taking traditional forms and adding modern production techniques and themes. The concept of soul has been referenced in the Black Lives Matter movement as a marker of the reliance of the Black community in the face of ongoing challenges. The Internet and social media platforms have helped spread the idea of soul, which has expanded to include Black identities of diverse backgrounds. Soul food has also undergone a renaissance with healthier ingredients to reflect conversations about health and wellness in the Black community. Celebrations of soul culture—including music, food, and community festivals— have continued to flourish as living traditions, with events like the 2024 Taste of Soul festival drawing tens of thousands and showcasing the ongoing vibrancy of Black cultural expression. New scholarship and cultural discourse also recognize emerging identity concepts like Soulaan, which emphasize historical continuity and ancestral roots as part of evolving Black cultural self‑description in the United States.


Bibliography

Allen, Candace. Soul Music: The Pulse of Race and Music. Gibson Square, 2012, pp. 849–51.

Brooks, Daphne A. "How #BlackLivesMatter Started a Musical Revolution." The Guardian, 13 Mar. 2016, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/13/black-lives-matter-beyonce-kendrick-lamar-protest. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Brooks de Vita, Alexis. "Soul Music." In Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture, edited by Carole Boyce Davies, ABC-CLIO, 2008.

"Echoes of the Past: 15 Albums Reviving the Golden Age of Soul." Album of the Year, www.albumoftheyear.org/user/hardfeelngs/list/251165/echoes-of-the-past-15-albums-reviving-the-golden-age-of-soul/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Henderson, Laretta. "'Ebony Jr!' and 'Soul Food': The Construction Of Middle-Class African American Identity through the use of Traditional Southern Foodways." Melus, vol. 32, no. 4, 2007, pp. 81–97.

Peartree, Millie. “Everything You Need To Know About Soul Food, According To Chef Millie Peartree.” Delish, 26 Jan. 2024, www.delish.com/food-news/a26356466/what-is-soul-food. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Rudinow, Joel. Soul Music: Tracking the Spiritual Roots of Pop from Plato to Motown. U of Michigan P, 2010.

“Soulaan — The Breakthrough Ethnonym That Has Taken Over Social Media.” Yahoo Finance, 25 Sept. 2025, finance.yahoo.com/news/soulaan-breakthrough-ethnonym-taken-over-150000369.html. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

"Taste of Soul Festival 2024". America’s Black Holocaust Museum, 19 Oct. 2024, www.abhmuseum.org/events/taste-of-soul-festival-2023/. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

“Timeline of African American Music - Mid-1960s-Mid-1970s - Soul.” Carnegie Hall, timeline.carnegiehall.org/genres/soul. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Witt, Doris. Black Hunger: Soul Food and America. U of Minnesota P, 2004.

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