The following are some links to material that I have come across in various sites on the net that may be of interest to some 'catters if they have not seen them. The views expressed therein may inform, annoy or even outrage, but all are worth dipping into.Of interest to banjo enthusiasts - Robert Winans' article in 'Folklore and Folklife in Virginia':
Black Banjo-Playing Traditions in Virginia and West Virginia
Christopher Waterman has undertaken an exhaustive study of an old warhorse:
Robert Cantwell is often impenetrable, but sometimes very insightful. Here is his review of the Revenant label's volume 4 of Harry Smith's Anthology. There is some controversy as to whether this volume 4 was what Smith had in mind - but that's another story.
Finally, a couple that date back a bit - the first to 1969 and the second to 1998. I found them interesting, perhaps you will also.
An article by Kenneth Rexroth:
Subversive Aspects of Popular Song
An article by Alex Abramovich:
Cheers, Stewie.