LIS 221 – African American Creative Arts: What is Soul?
Posted by profmassenburg in January 10, 2011 
Comments(20)
Comments(20) 
What is Soul? Is is that part of a person that gives the their spiritual and religious connection? Is it what makes you human, or a place of deep emotion? Or is it that distinct characteristic that identifies African Americans from others? When you think about soul, not a soul, what comes to mind?
When you think about the definition, do you picture anybody having soul? Can it be bought, sold, taught, learned, passed on? Read the article, take a look at the videos, and post your thoughts below.
\'What Is Soul?\' New Faces Have Answers by Ashley Kahn
When I first think of soul I automatically think of soul music like Donnie Hathaway and Aretha Franklin. But soul to me is something thats inside of you, it’s an “air” that you have about yourself. Soul is a certin confidence that you have in everything you do from the way you dress, the way you speak, and the way you choose to express feelings.
People think that soul is something that just black people have. I think that blacks are the originators of soul, but you definatly can have soul if your of another race. Like I said in class anybody can have soul but no everybody.
When I hear the world Soul I think about music. What made me think of it that way is that my grandma was the one I stayed with when I grew up an the only thinkg she would listen to is gospel an soul music her favorite artist Otis Redding and he song sitting on top of the bay. And Smokey Robinson he sing “Ooooo Baby Baby”. I liked songs like that i grew up to music like that until I got older an learn my own style an music. So when you said can people have soul yes cause I still every now an then I will play some soul music an not even R&B or Rap. But in class I see that we use the word soul today as swagga an when I was in class I said you can not prejudge people about soul cause there are people you might have soul an really just dont know to show it. An you can learn swagg and soul. Just like you in a realtionship you talk to someone that person will grown on an there habbits so you might pick up there soul/swagga. Everybody got there differnt way of expercening there self.
When I think of soul I think of our elders from down south that knows about the hard life. The ones that put heart into anything they do no matter what it is. Off the top of my head my great grandmother Madea comes to my mind. To me it’s either it’s in you or it’s not. It’s either pasted on through the family something that can be rubbed off on you.
When i think of soul it is a way if life and something you have inside of you. Soul is something you have to show people that you do have. You can show that you have soul by music, arts, or just talking to someone.
When I think of soul I think of family, your roots because your past is the reason for who you are they are the biggest influence even if you may have never known them you have similar traits to allot of them.
The genre of soul relates to rhythm and blues combined with gospel music, and these all relate to Blacks for the most part. When I think of soul, immediately and image of a man dressed like JJ from Good Times pops in my head. However, when I further analyze soul, my thoughts broaden. When I actually take the time to think about what soul is, I believe it lies within an individual. I believe an individual can have soul if he or she is passionate about what they do, and this does not have to relate to music or arts. Also, an individual does not need to be Black to have soul. I believe you can grow up around people with soul and in turn you some what develop soul, however, you cannot actually be taught soul and you can definitely not buy or sell soul.
What is soul?……… when i see the word soul i think of your inner person but when i picture soul i think of swag who you are what you about how you act how you carry your self as a person what defines you .
When I think of Soul, I tend to think of Blacks during the Harlem Renaissance time. I believe they have more soul then anybody because, they went through struggle and tuff times to get to the point they are at now. They express their soul through music, in music you could hear the true feelings, pain,hurt, and everything.
At first when I thought about soul I thought that it was something that you just had or didn’tand that it wasnt for everybody. Now as I look at soul from a different understanding I think that soul is nothing more than confidence. A confidence that is seen through a person actions whehter it the way that person talks, smiles, walks, sit, stand etc. Since it is based on confidence it cannot be bought, taught, or learned, it has to be gained. Unless your just one of those people who just happen to be born with it
Soul is simply putting feelings in what you love to do and and doing it to your best ability. Soul can have some spirtual connection because your spirit is in who and about of what makes you; you. I would also say that part of having soul do make you emotional about certain things. Having said that having soul distinguish African Americans from everyone because its different “creative”. When I think about soul I think about being myself and accepting who I am.
Soul is something that is either part of your character or its not. Soul is something that is deep has a lot of meaning behind it. Its something that people can embrace from your presence. Anybody can buy material things and pose to be something false but the truth always comes to the light at the end. Soul is originality being who you are no matter the looks you get from your peers.
Soul is a feeling of positive emotions given out by a person who brings out emotions we have hidden most of the time. We can see it in others by how passionate they are about something. When I think of someone with soul I immediately think about Soul Train and the atmosphere it exhibits, soul is definitely something along those lines.
well soul is something what a person is passionate about. An with it been like that its going to be a raw emotion in anything they feel. The people that i think have soul are gospel singers.
Soul is a combination of the confidence an individual possesses, in addition to the depth of an individual. To have soul, you must be confident in your own beliefs, abilities, interests, etc. Also, possessing soul requires you to have common sense and a desire for knowledge.
To me “soul” is a since of a deep inner self expression. Rather it be in music or the way you present yourself. in the last video i like how the little whiteboy broke the barrier of who could have a soulful voice, because it doesnt matter color or size its that deep inner feeling of experisson. I think the reason blacks are mostly connected to it is because of being limited of our experison for so long and then we finally got a chance to let it out full force. Overall soul is a within you and has no limitation on who can have it
when i think of soul i think of how black people put flavor into everything we do and its just pasted on as a genetic trait in a sense we all have it
Some people confuse soul with a heart. Some confuse soul with the brain or smarts. Truthfully it is neither. Soul is not an organ in your body, its more like a spirit. It is a inner being. I like a compare a soul to a fingerprint. everyone has one, whether it be good or bad, and there is not 2 that are alike.
Soul is in you. I believe “soul” is a gift. Many can’t translate soul to others. Soul is in music, art, the way you talk, the way you dress, your attitiude etc… Soul is not a heart. Soul is the spiritual aspect of the heart. India Arie, Lauryn Hill, Maya Angelou are examples of people who exemplify soul. Soul is your identity…
When I think of soul….I think of expressing your feeling, letting someone know how much something means to them. Soul is coming from the heart that you are passionate in, its your attitude, something spiritual.
when i hear soul i think of soft dark colors and calm music. I know that there is other types of music with sou but when i hear it, this is what comes to mind.
as far as people, i like we discussed in class, to me everyone has soul, think its just about how you embrace it.