Celebrating African American Music Appreciation Month

In June, we celebrate African American Music Appreciation Month. Music is a powerful way to connect communities, express oneself and to bond over shared experiences. So much history can be passed down in song and is a way to remember where the community came from and to help the community find where they are going next. Music can transport each person back in time, and place him/her back into a memory with just a single note. 

African American Music is filled with so much culture. It is important to remember the history that paved the way, and made African American Music what it is today.  African American Music Appreciation Month, formerly known as Black Music Month, began in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. President Carter wanted to acknowledge the contributions of African American artists, not just here in the United States, but abroad as well. 

Through my research, I learned that the 70s were such an influential period for African American Music. It was during this time that the music's popularity was growing, artists were becoming more well known and labels were picking them up to create albums. Although President Carter appreciated African American Music and saw the impact it had on the nation, he never signed a special presidential proclamation to make June an official month of recognition. It wasn’t until 1988 when Dyana Williams, a journalist and community activist, attempted to hold a Black Music Month event at the White House that she learned this would not be possible due to the lack of having a special presidential proclamation. For some, this would have been a discouragement, but not for Dyana. Dyana recruited the help of Congressman Chaka Fattah and together they lobbied for legislation. Two years later, thanks to their efforts, June was officially declared Black Music Month (National Today, 2023). In 2009, President Barack Obama would rename Black Music Month to African American Music Appreciation Month. 

There are many types of music with deep connections to the African American population and culture. Some of which include:

• Folk Music - “Which links back to African cultural traditions. Stemming from field hollers, work chants and game songs, folk music bursts with social commentary” (National Museum of African American History and Culture, n.d.).

  
  

• Sacred Music - Including spiritual and gospel music - Is a way to convey spiritual and religious messages through music. These songs are often sung during worship services. 

  
  

• Blues - Is known for being the foundational building block of contemporary American music. Blues music has geographically diverse incarnations as artists in different regions would incorporate their culture and experiences into their music.

  
  

• Hip-Hop & Rap - Are often used to promote social justice, self-empowerment, and cultural awareness. These genres allow for people to express themselves and share their stories and unique life experiences with others.

  
  

• Jazz -  Many of the ideas, rhythms, and styles that define jazz came from African American musicians and have evolved into many different subsets of the genre.

  
  

• Rock & Roll - Is created from many elements from all genres of African American music plus elements from American pop and country music.

As a white woman, I cannot relate to African American music in the same way since I have not had the same experiences as an African American person. However, I can still see the value in the music and appreciate how the culture has shaped the music industry for everyone. Without the contributions from African American musicians music would sound very differently than it does today. 

References: 

National Museum of African American History and Culture. (n.d.). Celebrating Black Music Month. Smithsonian Institution. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/celebrating-black-music-month

National Today. (2023, October 26). Black Music month. https://nationaltoday.com/black-music-month/