"Black People Invented That" - Black Music Month

On June 7, 1979, President Jimmy Carter declared June as National Black Music Month. Also called African American Music Appreciation Month, June is when streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify place a special emphasis on Black musicians throughout the Diaspora in an attempt to recognize the contributions and influences of Black people in music as we know it today.

As a young Black woman, I grew up hearing the history of my people through our music but little did I know, there was so much that I hadn't learned. This may be due to some sort of attempt at revisionist history.

As I got older and learned to explore music beyond the radio and my mom's extensive CD collection, I discovered that Black people play a vital role in literally every genre of music. Rock is inspired by the blues. Gospel music is inherently Black and strays away from the traditions of the white church. EDM began in the Black LGBTQ+ communities of Chicago and Detroit. Jazz, Blues, Country, the list goes on. All of the styles pull elements from traditional African beats and rhythms with drums, shouts, stomps, claps, and more.

This Black Music Month, take the time to dive deep into your favorite genre of music to see how ingrained The Culture is in the music. Check out a few of the resources below to start your search and let me know what you find.

Resources:

Celebrating BMM

Electronic Dance Music

Gospel Music

Country

Blues

Rock

R & B

Hip Hop