Do we really need Black Music Month?

June 22nd, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

‘Young Black Professional Do we really need Black Music Month?’Many of us know that June is Black Music Month, but what does that really mean?

According to a 2006 article on the U.S. State Department website, President Jimmy Carter first designated June as Black Music Month in 1979 after being encouraged to do so by songwriter and record producer Kenny Gamble.

Gamble, one half of the hit-making duo Gamble and Huff, was a pioneer in the “Philadelphia Soul” scene. And for you young ones, I’m not talking about Philly soul as in Jill Scott and the Roots, but Philadelphia Soul as in the “The Sound of Philadelphia (Soul Train Theme Song).” Gamble helped write hits for the Temptations, the Supremes, the O Jays, LaBelle and others.

It’s quite understandable why Gamble felt like “black music” needed to be “officially” recognized in 1979. Historically, blacks didn’t dominate the pop charts like they do today. Most black music was only found on the Black Singles Charts, now called the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs Charts. But even still, like the rest of the 1970s, 1979 was a great year for black music. Donna Summer released “Bad Girls”; Earth, Wind and Fire released “I Am”; and Michael Jackson released “Off The Wall” … which I recommend everybody incorporate into their music rotation soon if they haven’t done so recently.

Fast forward …

On May 31, 2007, President George W. Bush said the month of June “is an opportunity to honor the men and women who have created some of the best music America has ever produced.” But what does that mean? And is that even needed?

By my estimate, nearly 80 percent of the top 50 Billboard Hot 100 singles during the month of May were sung, written or produced by black artists … or by white artists who have worked with and/or have been heavily influenced by black artists. Truth be told, the number could be higher, but I’m getting older – I’ll be 26 and a half in October – and I don’t know all the names of these musicians the young folks are listening to these days, so I didn’t recognize some of the artists and songs.

But what is America learning about blacks through their music this month … or ever? The newest issue of Ebony magazine has a number of articles dedicated to the topic and AOL Black Voices has a pretty solid Black Music Month history page at http://blackvoices.aol.com/black_entertainment/music_videos_songs_radio/black_music_month_2007

But do we still need this month? What IS black music?

There Are 7 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by brentBhola on 24 June 2007:

    What exactly is Black Music. Are the Bad Brains, my favorite Black Punk Band who pioneered Thrash and back in the 80s considered Black Music?

    It’s is a marketing gimmick on par with Valentine’s day.

  2. Comment by Dame on 24 June 2007:

    I wasn’t even aware it was black music month.

  3. Comment by Ray Johnson on 24 June 2007:

    Wow I like Dame had not clue of this. I think regonition for Blacks in anything these days are examples of atonement for the treatment that was endured by many blacks in the past and present. The Indians get land and we get reserved days on the calendar

  4. Comment by B on 25 June 2007:

    I don’t know. I have a hard time believing that people sincerely have absolutely no clue what “black music” is. I mean, I have heard members of other groups refer to various aspects of their own culture, including music, so I am just confused about how people can claim not to know what type of music is traditionally a part of black culture. I know that one of my best friends told me how soca reminded her of Nigerian music, so I do think that different cultures typically have different styles of music. When I think of black music, I first think that the term is specifically referencing african american music & culture. When I think of African-American culture, I think of rock & roll, blues, jazz, r &b, hip hop, and even “pop” music. I think “black” music has more to do with culture, than skin color.

  5. Comment by Rashad L. Morgan on 27 June 2007:

    To play devil’s advocate, why not have black music month? As in every gesture of recognition, it is what you make of it. There is nothing inherently wrong with recognizing the contributions that have been made by blacks in basically defining many of the genres that are enjoyed by many. Maybe it is important that other people realize that we have contributed more to the music world than hip-hop. While black music month may seem hollow to those that have a greater understanding of these contributions, for those that need to be informed and educated, this month could be used as a tool to cultivate learning. To some, people, rock & roll began with the Beatles and not Chuck Berry. Most people forget that the Rolling Stones owe their style and name to the great black bluesmen that the grew up idolizing. And in this day and age where Chicken Noodle Soup passes as a pop hit, we may need Black Music Month more than we think.

  6. Comment by Glen on 11 July 2007:

    I found out about black music month about a year ago and to me it is a waste. At 41 years old I have lived black music all of my life and there is not much in my opinion to celebrate. Until things get back to the way they where in the music industry 30 years ago celebrating a certain month for our music in my opinion is barely worth the paper it is written on.

  7. Comment by WTF on 5 June 2008:

    Seeing as how the majority of music in our culture is rooted in “black history” (of which there is already an entire month dedicated), it makes more sense (to me) to study white music history. It would be traced back to black music anyway, and then everyone could benefit.
    (Of course, that would never happen as anyone who suggests anything aimed specifically at ‘white’ history is racist.)
    Just trying to make a point…

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