The Promise of Black Music Month

Written By: Kyle Thompson

“Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.”
- Stevie Wonder 

As the month of June concludes and we enter July, Black Music Month (or African American Music Heritage Month) follows in tow. The uniqueness of our time is the dynamism of Black music operating in the popular consciousness now more than ever. From Kendrick Lamar’s legendary Super Bowl performance, the box office hit Sinners, and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, there is no shortage of great music and reflective art emerging during this time. One of the most fundamental questions, however, is what the “promise” of Black music is to the history of African Americans as a people, and the broader implications it has on America and the world.

Black Music Month – Some background.

Black Music Month was established by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 as a way to support the work of the Black Music Association, which was created by Philadelphia artists Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cleveland-Based DJ Ed Wright. 

The first Black Music Month Celebration was hosted at the White House. Artists like Chuck Berry and Billy Eckstine were in attendance, along with many other musicians, to commemorate African American music. The month would not receive an official presidential proclamation until 2000, under President Bill Clinton. Later, President Barack Obama would rename the commemorative month “African American Music Appreciation Month” in 2016. In the proclamation, President Obama stated, “African-American music exemplifies the creative spirit at the heart of American identity and is among the most innovative and powerful art the world has ever known” (para. 1). 

Why is this moment in time distinct?

The movie Sinners has brought revitalized attention to Blues music, which contributes to the broader zeitgeist on musicality in America. Sinners effectively presents folkloric and supernatural motifs in Blues music in a unique and stylized manner that has not been explored prominently in film up to this point. At the same time, the everyday lives of Black people continue forward. The Black church continues to operate as a fixture in the lives of Black people, and rap remains a dominant secular art form. Above all else, the humanity of Black people is central to these experiences, whether at the cookout, praising God, or attending concerts of prominent Black artists. Upon further analysis, one would find that musicians who play blues, perform in churches, or create the next viral rap summer anthem do so not just as an expression of a specific genre, but to provide a soundtrack to the Black experience at a given point in time. This soundtrack is lived by people who seek comfort in the divinity of God, escape from life’s challenges through relatable lyrics, and camaraderie at social events.

What is the Promise of Black Music Month?

Black music touches every corner of the globe and resonates across history, languages, and personal experiences. It honors the complexity of the Black experience by the multitudes of artists who put pen to paper, recorded in studios, or performed on stages to express themselves. How, then, can we think about what I call the “promise” of Black music month? What does this mean in terms of looking at Black music beyond just a simple monthly designation, but as an ongoing, persistent feature of the human condition expressed by African Americans? 

To me, the promise of Black Music Month is honoring the expression of humanity across genre, style, and approach to music in the Black community. So much so that anyone, around the world, can find some piece of themselves in the music, too. I would furthermore suggest that Black Music Month is a reflection of America, and the diversity that is cultivated by lived experiences and regional differences, unified by cultural similarities that have shaped the essence of what it means to be Black in America. The ability for Black people to express themselves is the ability for America to see itself reflected in a community that survived challenges for centuries, yet still continues to thrive. It is this promise that opens the door for new artistry and genres to emerge, reflecting the soul of America.