How can the context of Cry be related to or affected by the era in which

Ailey worked?
Rachael Jones

Context is the framework and setting of a particular circumstance or event. It is

the underlying foundation on which you can build. Cry by Alvin Ailey is comprised
of a personal, historical, cultural and social context. The 1950s 1970s was the
time in which Aileys career as a choreographer was at its strongest and this was
also a time of dramatic change within society. Uprisings for equal rights within
the African American community were occurring more frequently and were
gaining media coverage and attention. It is fair to say that the aforementioned
contexts were formed and affected by the revolutionary era in which Ailey
worked.
The personal context of Cry was derived from a variety of life experiences faced
by Ailey; the main focus being his mother and her struggles. For example, the
first section of Cry is about the varying roles and struggles of African American
women. Life was tough between the 50s and the 70s for all African Americans,
but even more so for women. They were treated even lower than men; being
taken advantage of and in Aileys mothers case; raped. A sense of loss is
portrayed in the movement and we see the maternal job to keep the family
together and strong, conveyed through the female dancer. When the dancer uses
the piece material to trap herself and resists against it, it expresses the
experience his mother would have felt; with the material representing a barrier.
We also see aspects of those emotional feelings Ailey felt throughout his life.
When the dancer uses the material to scrub and clean the floor, this shows a
literal representation of the hard work Aileys mother and all African American
women went through to make ends meet in the era in which Ailey worked.
The historical context of Cry directly relates to the era in which Ailey worked.
Between the 1950s and the 1980s there was a worldwide political movement
for equality. Campaigns aimed at achieving change by non-violent forms of
resistance were quite popular. During the 60s injustices could no longer be
ignored and riots started to break out. African Americans were treated inferior to
whites in every aspect of life. Martin Luther King led the way for many African
Americans to not give up hope. He led many demonstrations; some of which
achieved integration. These historical dynamics that surrounded Ailey influenced
the context, particularly in section three. This section conveys a sense of
celebration and pride through upbeat accompaniment and dynamic movement.
The movement consists of elevated jumps and leaps, with open shapes
representing African culture through splayed hands and polyrhythms. The sense
of hope that African Americans gained from activists such as Martin Luther King
and Rosa Parkes is portrayed through this section of movement, creating a clear
link between the context and the era in which Ailey worked.
The cultural context of Cry consists of Aileys religious faith and the morals he
experienced growing up throughout his life. When experiencing life in the church,
Ailey saw how his mother and other members of the community found joy and

energy in worshiping God. We see this same inner strength and a spiritual
background represented physically by the dancer in Cry, with the use of high
releases in the upper body and circular motions of the arms. There is also a use
of literal movements of prayer. Through contrived movement we see the faith
continue; it is an ongoing belief. You draw on your own beliefs and values when
going through hard times. This shows a distinct relationship between the cultural
context and the era in which Ailey worked, as he had to fight for rights of
equality and faced prejudices during the 50s, 60s and 70s. He used his faith as
a means of strength; just like the female dancer in Cry.
The social context of Cry came from societys views within the era in which Ailey
worked. Segregation was still a major issue within society and this played a
major role on the context of Cry; the submissive cyclical nature of life. The
African Americans felt trapped and weighed down; having no freedom and equal
rights. This is shown through the many uses of the material. When the female
dancer lays it at the front of the stage it acts as a boundary and is symbolic that
African Americans were restricted in life and cannot pass over into the whites
side. When the dancer uses it as a head dress this symbolises the importance of
mothers within their society; women in African American society were valued
highly; they were the bearers of children. Despite the many grievances the
family may face, mothers were there as a means of support for the family. Ailey
had the highest respect for his mother and this is shown through his portrayal of
women in Cry. When the dancer carries the fabric behind her, it acts as a burden;
baggage that the African American community felt they carried through all of
their lives, due to societies views on them.
In conclusion, there is a direct link between the era in which Ailey worked and
the context of Cry. Ailey worked in one of the most society changing times in
America. Everything that white Americans had grown up with for centuries was
now challenged and questioned. The thought of African Americans having
equality was too much for many to believe. This controversy and fight for
freedom is what helped shape the context of Cry. If it were not for these
revolutionary changes within American society, I believe the context of Cry would
not have been what it was. Rosa Parkes sat so Martin Luther King could walk.
Martin Luther King walked so Obama could run. Obama ran so we could all fly.
America has come so far from the era in which Ailey worked and if Cry were to be
created in todays circumstances I believe it would be a completely different
work.