White Face, Black Mask

Although African influences undeniably pervade the popular music of Brazil, until now few books have examined the role of Blackness—what author Darién Davis calls "Africaneity"—in the creation and development of twentieth-century Brazilian musical traditions. This innovative, accessible work offers a fascinating look at Brazilian music from the 1920s to the 1950s, as it expanded at home and traveled abroad. Whether he's talking with samba musicians, watching classic movie musicals, or listening to recordings made more than half a century ago, Davis explores how the historical forces of race, class, and gender colluded in the development and export of Afro-Brazilian culture.