Orpheus as a Symbol in the Black American Civil Rights Movement
When researching for this blog post, I searched through many databases but mostly only found short reviews from various performances of Orfeo, nothing that felt substantial enough to build a blog post around. However, when I searched the term “Orpheus” in the database of African American newspapers, I found many results that didn’t have to do with the opera. Instead, the figure of Orpheus, a character that originated from a Greek myth and was popularized through an Italian opera, has become a symbol of the many struggles that the Black American community has faced and how music and other artistic pursuits are essential in maintaining one’s humanity and culture.
One of the earliest references to Orpheus that I could find in these newspapers was an article about music published in Fredrick Douglas’ paper The North Star on November 3, 1848. In this article, the writer calls for the audience to cultivate their musical talents, not just for fame or money, but for their own community. The writer asserts that music is more than just a form of entertainment, but a way of people finding each other, a way of building and strengthening a community. In reference to Orpheus, the writer describes that “they made Orpheus and his brethren the civilizers of the earth”, using the metaphor of the great poet and singer Orpheus to explain that music is an inherent quality of humanity. When this article was published, slavery was still legal and incredibly widespread across the South. In order for enslaved people to maintain their humanity, they would often use music and stories that were passed down through generations in order to maintain a connection to their heritage and hold onto the joy and happiness that the arts bring in the face of the extreme violence and dehumanization that they faced every day. The myth of Orpheus in particular was likely one that Black Americans could relate to because of the unfairness of Orpheus losing Eurydice, and also the hope that he has that he and his love will escape the underworld and live together happily someday.
Another article that references Orpheus is an article published on May 25, 1867 in the New Orleans Tribune entitled “A Panoramic View of the Situation”. The article celebrates the end of slavery while also looking back at the incredible hardships that have led to emancipation. While reminiscing on the creation of the US, the writer acknowledges the incredible hypocrisy of the founders creating “a constitution, claiming a universal liberty, but yet holding in bondage a race of men and brothers”. The article also acknowledges that the freedom that had just been won was not guaranteed, as if the Confederacy had won, slavery would have continued without the Union interfering. In reference to Orpheus, the article asserts that “the work of Orpheus is before us”. This likely means that, like Orpheus walking out of hell, there would be a long and difficult path towards freedom and equality for Black Americans. Overall, the purpose of this article is to remember those who have been lost and serve as a call to action for readers to be like Orpheus and keep moving forward to a better future.
The opera L’Orfeo has been performed countless times since its inception in 1607, captivating people across continents and cultures. Though we cannot be certain exactly what accounts for its near-universal success, it is clear that many of its themes are common across many different cultures. As shown by the articles I discussed above, Orpheus was a symbol used by Black Americans during the times of slavery and reconstruction to represent how music helps those facing unimaginable evils hold onto their humanity and connect with their culture. Additionally, the story of Orpheus also parallels how large systems of power oppress groups of people, but yet how people always have hope to believe that they will one day be free of these systems. In the musical Hadestown, these parallels are further expanded upon, as Hades is a businessman who lures Eurydice with the promise of wealth, then traps her in the underworld, a critique of how unregulated capitalism can lead to exploitation of workers. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of hope, but also of the cruelty and injustice that comes from unfair systems of power and how hard it can be for any individual to find their way out.
Sources:
“A Panoramic View Of The Situation.” New Orleans Tribune, 25 May 1867, p. 4. Readex: African American Newspapers, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/readex/doc?p=EANAAA&docref=image/v2%3A12B3C01E490E6BA0%40EANAAA-12BE540E4D0217E8%402403112–12B8820D43C7A2D8%403–12DA64345B97FAE8%40A%2BPanoramic%2BView%2BOf%2BThe%2BSituation.
“Music.” Frederick Douglass’ Paper, vol. I, no. 45, 3 Nov. 1848, p. [1]. Readex: African American Newspapers, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/readex/doc?p=EANAAA&docref=image/v2%3A11BE9340B7A005AB%40EANAAA-11D0A392948C4100%402396335–11D0A392A07017A8%400–11D0A392DB294AF8%40Music.