The rise and emergence of rock ‘n’ roll in American society in the 1950s and 1960s partially broke down the color barrier, allowing people to begin looking past the issues of racial inferiority and superiority. This breaking down of the color barrier and easing of racial tension was not complete, however, leading to a heightened need for civil rights and equality. This new music form allowed blacks and whites to work together in a professional setting and intermingle like they never had before, increasing white appreciation and acceptance for blacks. Without rock ‘n’ roll and the social benefits included, the civil rights movement may never have been as powerful as it was. The origins of rock ‘n’ roll had its very roots in the African-American culture. Rhythm and blues, jazz, and gospel music, once confined solely to black culture, now found their way into white society, as “race records” became popular, not just in the black community, but in the white community as well. These “race records” were, at first, aimed only at the African-American audience, and were distributed by door-to-door salesmen and newsboys for “lovers of music everywhere and those who desire to help in the advance of the Race.” Bessie Smith, a black singer in the 1920s, became so popular within the black community, that she was cast in an early sound film—one of the first to include black performers. Eventually, “race records” expanded to include comedy routines, recorded sermons, and spirituals. In the 1940s and 1950s, these records also began to become popular within the white community as record producers realized the appeal that the music could have. This new music had more than just a cultural effect, as it served to change society as well; it stood as a powerful alternative to the conformist values of the first part of the Cold War. (Schmoop) This emergence of black music into popular