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| Beyoncé Cowboy Carter tour: What does Chitlin' Circuit mean? | Beyoncé Cowboy Carter tour: What does Chitlin' Circuit mean? |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Tickets for Beyoncé's latest tour are up for grabs | Tickets for Beyoncé's latest tour are up for grabs |
| Pre-sale sign-up done. Phone ready. Hoping and praying that you'll bag tickets for Beyoncé's upcoming Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. | Pre-sale sign-up done. Phone ready. Hoping and praying that you'll bag tickets for Beyoncé's upcoming Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin' Circuit Tour. |
| All of that doesn't leave you much time to think about the meaning behind the name. | All of that doesn't leave you much time to think about the meaning behind the name. |
| Cowboy Carter is, obviously, the name of Beyoncé's latest album. | Cowboy Carter is, obviously, the name of Beyoncé's latest album. |
| But "Chitlin' Circuit" might raise some questions in your mind. | But "Chitlin' Circuit" might raise some questions in your mind. |
| What's the Chitlin' Circuit? | What's the Chitlin' Circuit? |
| From the late 1880s until the 1960s, so-called Jim Crow laws enforced segregation against black Americans and saw them treated as second-class citizens. | From the late 1880s until the 1960s, so-called Jim Crow laws enforced segregation against black Americans and saw them treated as second-class citizens. |
| It meant that they were separated from white people - often prevented from living in certain neighbourhoods, forced to attend different schools and banned from public spaces. | It meant that they were separated from white people - often prevented from living in certain neighbourhoods, forced to attend different schools and banned from public spaces. |
| During this era, black musicians and performers created their own network of live performance venues across the United States. | During this era, black musicians and performers created their own network of live performance venues across the United States. |
| Known as the Chitlin' Circuit, it took its name from "Chitterling" - a dish made with pig's intestines popular in the south, where Jim Crow laws were most prevalent. | Known as the Chitlin' Circuit, it took its name from "Chitterling" - a dish made with pig's intestines popular in the south, where Jim Crow laws were most prevalent. |
| Venues were considered safe and acceptable spaces for black musicians, comedians and audiences and gave many pioneering performers a platform to hone their craft. | Venues were considered safe and acceptable spaces for black musicians, comedians and audiences and gave many pioneering performers a platform to hone their craft. |
| Almost every notable black musician of the time graced the circuit at some point, including stars such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. | Almost every notable black musician of the time graced the circuit at some point, including stars such as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. |
| Soul singer James Brown (pictured in 1962), played the Chitlin' Circuit | Soul singer James Brown (pictured in 1962), played the Chitlin' Circuit |
| The circuit was "tremendously important to the development of black music", says Mia Bay, Professor of American History at Cambridge University. | The circuit was "tremendously important to the development of black music", says Mia Bay, Professor of American History at Cambridge University. |
| "The black stars of the day would travel the circuit," she tells BBC Newsbeat. | "The black stars of the day would travel the circuit," she tells BBC Newsbeat. |
| "It was very important to sustaining the careers of many important black performers - it allowed them to make a living in music. | "It was very important to sustaining the careers of many important black performers - it allowed them to make a living in music. |
| "They were on the road all the time." | "They were on the road all the time." |
| Prof Bay says the presence of the circuit was also "very helpful to black communities". | Prof Bay says the presence of the circuit was also "very helpful to black communities". |
| Performers were drawn to "black vacation spots" and the theatres at those locations, Prof Bay says. | Performers were drawn to "black vacation spots" and the theatres at those locations, Prof Bay says. |
| "This would in turn help the careers of these entertainers," she says. | "This would in turn help the careers of these entertainers," she says. |
| "It was one of the more successful segregation-era businesses." | "It was one of the more successful segregation-era businesses." |
| Beyoncé also won best country album at the Grammys for Cowboy Carter | Beyoncé also won best country album at the Grammys for Cowboy Carter |
| Beyoncé has often paid tribute to black performers, and Prof Bay feels the singer's Texas roots may have played a role in that. | Beyoncé has often paid tribute to black performers, and Prof Bay feels the singer's Texas roots may have played a role in that. |
| "[It] was very much a segregated state, so this would be something that would be a very direct reference in terms of where she grew up and how she thinks about American history. | "[It] was very much a segregated state, so this would be something that would be a very direct reference in terms of where she grew up and how she thinks about American history. |
| "I also think she, in some ways, has a nostalgic reference, because it was such a communal circuit with a lot of performers," she says. | "I also think she, in some ways, has a nostalgic reference, because it was such a communal circuit with a lot of performers," she says. |
| The star's latest tour stops off at notable Chitlin' Circuit cities such as Houston and Chicago. | |
| Beyoncé fan and music history content creator Nat Brown feels that's not a coincidence. | Beyoncé fan and music history content creator Nat Brown feels that's not a coincidence. |
| Unlike Renaissance, this tour is smaller with only eight cities being played in total globally, with six of those in the US. | Unlike Renaissance, this tour is smaller with only eight cities being played in total globally, with six of those in the US. |
| "It's a very small tour," says Nat. | "It's a very small tour," says Nat. |
| "Just like it historically was with the Chitlin' Circuit, where you only went to seven to 10 places. | "Just like it historically was with the Chitlin' Circuit, where you only went to seven to 10 places. |
| "And if people were able to see you - great. But most often, people missed out because you blazed through town and went to the next spot." | "And if people were able to see you - great. But most often, people missed out because you blazed through town and went to the next spot." |
| She thinks the purpose of using "Chitlin' Circuit" as part of the title is to educate people who may not know about it. | She thinks the purpose of using "Chitlin' Circuit" as part of the title is to educate people who may not know about it. |
| Beyoncé's previous album, Renaissance explored the forgotten influence of black and queer communities on house music. | Beyoncé's previous album, Renaissance explored the forgotten influence of black and queer communities on house music. |
| And Cowboy Carter, which recently won a best album Grammy, delves further into the history of black American musicians. | And Cowboy Carter, which recently won a best album Grammy, delves further into the history of black American musicians. |
| Nat says: "I think it's bringing back something old and making it new again. | Nat says: "I think it's bringing back something old and making it new again. |
| "This is bringing something to younger generations. | "This is bringing something to younger generations. |
| "Being able to see your favourite artist play and things like that and really have that bonding and kind of cultural experience. | "Being able to see your favourite artist play and things like that and really have that bonding and kind of cultural experience. |
| "That's what she's trying to bring back," Nat says. | "That's what she's trying to bring back," Nat says. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |