Final answer:
Rock and roll, originating from the African American community's blend of gospel, blues, country, jazz, and R&B, was the genre that notably allowed African Americans to influence the music of the 1970s. It contributed significantly to social integration and blurring racial lines, with later contributions in the emergence of hip-hop and rap music.
Step-by-step explanation:
The popular genre of music that allowed African Americans to leave their mark on the music of the 1970s was rock and roll. This genre originated from a combination of electric instruments with the sounds of gospel, blues, country, jazz, and R&B, evolving into a new sound that captivated audiences, notably teenagers, across the nation. Rock and roll was born out of African American musical traditions such as rhythm and blues, which had deep roots in African culture with an emphasis on percussion, syncopated rhythms, and blue or bent notes.
Rock and roll also played a crucial role in the social and cultural landscapes, blurring racial lines and influencing the integration of black and white teenagers. African American musicians such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard were among the early pioneers whose influence bridged racial divides in music. Furthermore, the genre's growth led to increased interaction and the eventual merging of audiences, irrespective of race, particularly through radio and television shows like the Ed Sullivan Show and American Bandstand. Artists like Elvis Presley, who followed the footsteps of African American artists, brought rock and roll into the mainstream, despite initial resistance due to the genre's association with rebellion and African American culture.
In the 1970s, the emergence of hip-hop and rap music, with its roots in 1970s funk, became another groundbreaking movement. Artists like the Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron, and groups like Public Enemy, used the medium to address inner-city life, racism, and other social issues, further cementing the significant cultural impact African Americans had on the music scene.