It’s June and we’re finally “outside” without restrictions. We’re catching up on bottomless mimosa brunches, actually taking long walks on the beach, and thanks to Beyonce and Drake’s newly released music we’re dancing. Cheers to good summer vibes!
June is also Black Music Month. There is no definitive way to celebrate Black Music Month, but you can honor it by using the month to reflect on the contributions Black artists have made to the world. This is especially important because a quick Google search will lead you to countless documented examples of Black artists whose legacy and money were stolen in America. From Elvis Presley’s theft of “Hound Dog” from a Black woman named Big Mama Thornton to the erasure of Black Influencers on Tik-Tok, to say that the music business is known for the way it harms Black entertainers would be the understatement of the year. Honoring June as Black Music Month is in no way a form of reparations; however, it is a small way of pausing to give reverence to those who were robbed in the past and acknowledge the remarkable contributions made by contemporary Black artists.
To help you honor Black Music Month, I created a short list of some solid music documentaries you should watch and support.
1) Summer of Soul Documentary.
I wrote about this documentary here last year and it’s still one of my favorites. It won an Oscar this year, but you might not remember that because it was overshadowed by the slap that shall not be named. This is ironic considering the film itself documents a concert in Harlem that was historically overshadowed by Woodstock.
2) Tina
This HBO documentary is an inviting and candid exploration of the life and career of the amazing Tina Turner. I watched the film expecting to be entertained, but the doc goes further than that. It’s rare footage of Ms. Turner and an honest glimpse at the way the media was brutal and unfair to her. I don’t know if that was the goal of Directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin, but they shed a light on the way media was relentless and sometimes even downright brutal to Ms. Turner. Some of the old media clips and classic interviews shown made me gasp. Today, such insensitive interview styles would result in “journalists” being held accountable on social media. Nonetheless, since I love a story within a story, these parts made the film even more compelling.
David Styles, AKA “Styles” from the group The L.O.X., recently stated, “Y’all respect the King, I respect the King Maker.” By all accounts, Clarence Avant, the lead subject in the film, is a “King Maker.” He was the mentor of some of the music world’s biggest hit makers. He is the man that helped the careers of Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, and the dynamic duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The film is equal parts entertainment and eye-opening as it pulls back the curtain and reveals the man who is responsible for us falling in love with some of our favorite entertainers.
There are no lists that could fully capture the contributions that Black people have made to the world of music. In the same vein, there’s also no way to condense such accolades to a month. We could honor Black artists every month and still only scratch the surface. Fortunately for us, our celebration isn’t limited to one designated timeframe. We can keep this celebration going all year long.
Cheers to a summer of new music from Black artists and a lifetime of deliberate efforts to honor our trailblazers!
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