Which of the following is true about african american ballads of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?
a. they celebrated the exploits of black heroes and "bad men."
b. they were popular in the area around atlanta, georgia, but did not catch on in other places until the 1970s.
c. they were performed in "blackface."
d. they included songs such as "barbara allen."
e. they were usually composed by jewish tin pan alley composers.

A) They celebrated the exploits of black heroes and "bad men".

Explanation:

Ballads are understood as musicalized poetry, and emerged in the 14th century.

African American ballads of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries celebrated the exploits of black heroes and bad men by composing musical pieces that artistically narrated these character's personas and actions, many of them which were entangled in racial-political issues that leaded them to their tragic ends. It was a way for this community to handle the pain, claim their memories.