But she did not overcome the vast gap between European and African-American vocal traditions.
The African-American Christian tradition alone claims about 65,000 churches and 20 million members.
Its origins forgotten, the song was absorbed into the African-American cultural tradition.
The legacy of the African-American oral tradition manifests in diverse forms.
Call and response is another pervasive element of the African-American oral tradition.
Spoken word artistry is another example of how the African-American oral tradition has influenced modern popular culture.
In addition, the group's studies and performances helped preserve the spirituals of African-American tradition.
In fact, no single image could ever do justice to the richness of the African-American religious tradition.
He was a black power integrationist who reclaimed rock music as an African-American tradition.
"Just two centuries ago, the African-American literary tradition was born in slave narratives," he said.