In 1979, President Jimmy Carter declared June as National Black Music Appreciation month. African American music is the most listened to music throughout the world. Beginning with the Africans enslaved in the southern states who created blues music as medicine for their trauma, every generation of African Americans have created music to deal with our oppression. During the turbulent civil rights era of the 1960's Jazz was popular as we used it to simmer rage caused by racism and Motown music kept us focused on love when there were many reasons to be filled with hate. During the civil rights era, when the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. grew fearful for his life or needed spiritual upliftment, he would call upon gospel singer Mahalia Jackson to sing church songs to him.
Historically, each time the black community has faced substance use crisis, prominent singer and rappers have chimed in and sung songs which served as cautionary tales about the danger these drugs pose for Black communities. Click here to listen to some of those songs.
Click here to learn about the history of substance use among African Americans as depicted in music.
Today I listened to 7 genres of Black Music. Let’s enjoy the music this month!