Reclaiming the Rhythm: Honoring the Legacy and Future of Conscious Black Music

Black Music month was established in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter to celebrate the contributions of Black musicians to the music industry. Music has a profound influence on people, affecting them emotionally, cognitively and socially. Black music has been an indomitable force, weaving together threads of resilience, protest, and profound spirituality. From the spirituals sung by enslaved Africans to the birth of jazz in New Orleans, from the soul-stirring blues of the Mississippi Delta to the revolutionary beats of hip-hop, black music has been a mirror reflecting the struggles and triumphs of its creators. However, in the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, Black music has lost its consciousness. What has happened to the message? The culture has been subjected to mumble rapping where the emphasis is no longer focused on meaningful lyricism with a message. Historically, Black music has been a vehicle for social commentary and change. The spirituals and gospel songs of the 19th century served as both a means of coping with the harsh realities of slavery with songs like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” The blues emerged in the early 20th century as an expression of the sorrow and hardship faced by African Americans in the post-Reconstruction...