Malindi Minute: Celebrating Black Music Month
Today's newsletter will celebrate Black Music. As some may or may not know, June is Black Music Month. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter designated June as the month that Black music would be celebrated. During June, awareness would be the month that contributions African American Americans have made to music would be recognized.
The contributions of Black people to music are undeniable. Country, Rock and Roll, Gospel, House, Rhythm and Blues, and Hip Hop are all genres that African Americans started. Time has had a way of blurring the lines between genres and also distorting history in a way that takes away from the contributions that were made. The history and origins of some of these are well documented.
"Country music is a genre founded, molded, and upheld by the Black community. Starting from the Banjo, an instrument within the lineage of the West African lute, Africans sparked the creation of the genre. Through the slave trade and the spread of African American culture, the Banjo became a central component of enslaved people’s music. However, as their music spread to white audiences through deeply racist Minstrel shows, the genre was rebranded as “hillbilly music” and quickly became known as the country music we know today." - The Harvard Crimson
"One of the Eighties and Nineties’ most prolific house music producers and remixers, Knuckles is, hands down, one of the dozen most important DJs of all time. At his Chicago clubs the Warehouse (1977-82) and Power Plant (1983-85), Knuckles’ marathon sets, typically featuring his own extended edits of a wide selection of tracks from disco to post-punk, R&B to synth-heavy Eurodisco, laid the groundwork for electronic dance music culture—all of it." - Rolling Stone
The thing that Black music does incredibly well, in a world where media may be depicting us one way, it allows for us to control some of the narrative. It gives the people a chance to tell their own stories. Black music is often a window into Black culture so people can see us love, cheer, mourn, worship, reminisce, and simply exist.
I've always been a firm believer that soul music never dies. The artists we still listen to today, years after their music was first heard are mostly soul artists; Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan. We still sing along to all of them with our hearts. - Jill Scott
I fell in love with music by listening to R&B, & it’s the core of who I am. - Beyonce
Most gospel music is very vertical. And there's nothing wrong with that - there's nothing wrong with, you know, 'God, we praise you,' and 'hallelujah.' Those songs are very important. But I also like to do songs that are very horizontal, that kind of fit within the fabric of people's everyday life. - Kirk Franklin
If you want to release your aggression, get up and dance. That's what rock and roll is all about. - Chuck Berry
The thing about hip-hop today is it's smart, it's insightful. The way they can communicate a complex message in a very short space is remarkable. - Barack Obama
The influence of Hip-Hop music on pop culture cannot be understated. Hip Hop is still the number one genre in the world. The genre, created in 1973, is still relatively young but has an influence that may be incalculable. A small example of this is in the chart below which demonstrates the industry effects that Roc-a-fella Records has had.
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Kenya’s youth prevail after controversial tax bill is proposed.
Marsha Ambrosius releases jazz and soul inspired album “Casablanco” produced by Dr. Dre.
Protecting Black girls on social media should be a public health priority.
Florida approves medicaid coverage for sickle cell gene treatments. Sickle cell is a disease that disproportionately effects African Americans.
Three HBCU quarterbacks have been invited to serve as camp counselors at the Manning Passing Academy.
Thank you for reading! Leave a comment below about some of your favorite artists, albums, songs, or moments in Black music!