What genre best represented the growing influence of African American music in the late nineteenth century?

Ragtime is recognized as the genre that most significantly represented the growing influence of African American music in the late nineteenth century. Emerging in the 1890s, ragtime embodied a fusion of African musical traditions with European musical forms, particularly in its syncopated rhythms and piano compositions. This genre not only showcased the creativity and complexity of African American musical expression but also contributed to the broader American music scene, influencing later styles such as jazz and blues.

Ragtime achieved widespread popularity, not only among African American communities but also crossing over to white audiences, helping to bridge cultural divides. It played a vital role in the timeline of American music history, marking a shift where African American cultural expressions significantly began to gain recognition and acceptance in the mainstream.

Other genres like jazz and blues, although also influential, developed slightly later, with jazz fully forming in the early 20th century and blues emerging from earlier musical traditions but gaining prominence in the early to mid-1900s. Spirituals, while deeply rooted in African American history and culture, were more associated with religious expression and did not encompass the same popular musical trends as ragtime during that period. Therefore, ragtime stands out as the key genre reflecting the growing influence of African American music