--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we call soul has been around a long…" description: "\"What we call soul has been around a long time. It comes out of a particular culture that is African in origin, but influenced by 250 years of slavery, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/roy-ayers-18278_culture_what-we-call-soul-has-been-around-a-long_2529840.jpg" --- # What we call soul has been around a long time. It comes… ![“What we call soul has been around a long time. It comes out of a particular culture that is African in origin, but influenced by 250 years of slavery, as well as other forms of racial oppression.” quote by Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/roy-ayers-18278_culture_what-we-call-soul-has-been-around-a-long_2529840.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/roy-ayers-18278_culture_what-we-call-soul-has-been-around-a-long_2529840.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/roy-ayers-18278_culture_what-we-call-soul-has-been-around-a-long_2529840.jpg) > “What we call soul has been around a long time. It comes out of a particular culture that is African in origin, but influenced by 250 years of slavery, as well as other forms of racial oppression.” [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Soul music originates from African culture, shaped by slavery and ongoing racial oppression. **In simple terms:** Soul reflects African roots and oppression history. Key Takeaway Recognize cultural origins. Themes culture history identity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type cultural philosophical When to use this quote - education - music production - activism - community events Key Concepts African diaspora musicology social justice Questions to Reflect On - How does history shape modern music? - What role does music play in healing? A Different Perspective Simplifying complex history can overlook nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slavery/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“No one knows I lost my soul long ago”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/three-days-grace/no-one-knows-i-lost-my-soul-long-ago/) [Three Days Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/three-days-grace/) > [“...your soul can never be long going to the fixed stars, where I intend to settle; or else you may find me in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kelahan/your-soul-can-never-be-long-going-to-the-fixed-stars-where-i-intend/) [Michael Kelahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kelahan/) > [“let your soul take you where you long to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-loid-webber/let-your-soul-take-you-where-you-long-to-be/) Andrew Loid Webber > [So in Jamaica it is the aim of everybody to talk English, act English and look English. And that last specification is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/so-in-jamaica-it-is-the-aim-of-everybody-to-talk-english-act-english/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [It's obvious that the rest of the world loves high African culture - African culture, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-masekela/it-s-obvious-that-the-rest-of-the-world-loves-high-african-culture/) [Hugh Masekela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-masekela/) > [ It seemed \[there are\] musical nodes on the planet where cultures meet and mix, sometimes as a result of unfortunate circumstances, like slavery or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/it-seemed-there-are-musical-nodes-on-the-planet-where-cultures-meet/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [From politics and business to music and food to culture, African-Americans have helped to shape our state's colourful past and its future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-landrieu/from-politics-and-business-to-music-and-food-to-culture-african/) [Mary Landrieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-landrieu/) > [We are African in origin and American in birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-thomas-fortune/we-are-african-in-origin-and-american-in-birth/) [Timothy Thomas Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-thomas-fortune/) > [Gospel music rhythms are not African in origin, although I know that's what the jazz experts say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahalia-jackson/gospel-music-rhythms-are-not-african-in-origin-although-i-know-that-s/) [Mahalia Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahalia-jackson/) > [One of the things that made the Black Muslim movement grow was its emphasis upon things African. 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If every black person looked at their life they would quickly discover that they have been influenced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-don-t-think-i-m-really-so-unique-if-every-black-person-looked-at/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [I don't like rap that you can't understand. The youth is so quick and alert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-don-t-like-rap-that-you-can-t-understand-the-youth-is-so-quick-and/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [I was with PolyGram; that was the big label that I was with for the longest, like 12 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-was-with-polygram-that-was-the-big-label-that-i-was-with-for-the/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [The true beauty of music is that it connects peopl. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/the-true-beauty-of-music-is-that-it-connects-peopl-it-carries-a/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [I generally sell my records online or at the show. You can undersell the distributor and the stores, and people know what they're getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-generally-sell-my-records-online-or-at-the-show-you-can-undersell/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [I'm celebrating my 40th year in show business this year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-m-celebrating-my-40th-year-in-show-business-this-year/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [People are always defining and re-defining music. My style of playing has been characterized as smooth jazz and acid jazz. I listen as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/people-are-always-defining-and-re-defining-music-my-style-of-playing/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [You grow and learn a lot about the industry and what happens behind closed doors over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/you-grow-and-learn-a-lot-about-the-industry-and-what-happens-behind/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [I still look good. I'm trippin', but people tell me that all the time. So check it out, I'm 63, and still kicking. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-still-look-good-i-m-trippin-but-people-tell-me-that-all-the-time-so/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [I was being an artist, being sensitive and technical as artists are. I'm sure Leonardo Da Vinci did that. Artists don't always feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-was-being-an-artist-being-sensitive-and-technical-as-artists-are-i/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/the-true-beauty-of-music-is-that-it-connects-people-it-carries-a/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [People in England were coming up to me, saying, My mother and father turned me on to your music. This happened to me 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/people-in-england-were-coming-up-to-me-saying-my-mother-and-father/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [I've been sampled so much and I'm glad it's happened, it's a great compliment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-ve-been-sampled-so-much-and-i-m-glad-it-s-happened-it-s-a-great/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [Some people really trip on success or popularity. My friends would talk to me about that, about tripping on all this stuff, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/some-people-really-trip-on-success-or-popularity-my-friends-would/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) > [I couldn't get my album played over the so-called smooth jazz stations. Jazz stations would not play it. You don't always know who you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-ayers/i-couldn-t-get-my-album-played-over-the-so-called-smooth-jazz/) [Roy Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) [Explore all 35 Roy Ayers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-ayers/) ## More Culture quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. 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And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. 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My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [You get below the Mason-Dixon line and you have some of the best music, culture, the two races, the literature, and it's so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/you-get-below-the-mason-dixon-line-and-you-have-some-of-the-best/) [Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“Being grounded in your lifelong culture and your personal perspective, you are comfortable with the way you see things and may believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/being-grounded-in-your-lifelong-culture-and-your-personal-perspective/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) [Browse all 15,940 Culture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we call soul has been around a long time. 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