Jes Grew represented in the modern day
A main topic in Ishmael Reed's book was Jes Grew. Jes Grew is a virus that causes people to dance. To keep the virus alive, a text was created. Towards the end of the book, the text was burned, killing Jes Grew. The Virus was killed, but it can still be shown in 2025 through different media of art or technology. Jes Grew is a Fictional virus that can be seen still to this day, as represented in Music. Jes Grew is first introduced as a virus that causes people to dance. As all viruses are, Jes Grew is very contagious. In Mumbo Jumbo, Reed first describes the viruses as “[Jes Grew spreads] with the astonishing rapidity of Booker T. Washington’s Grapevine Telegraph” (Reed 13). This quote shows that Jes Grew spreads to everyone quickly and how contagious it is. Music is similar to Jes Grew in a way that it can be easily spread through social media, the radio, and many other ways. With a catchy tone or an infectious beat, music can pull people in. Just like Jes Grew, music can make ...
