Human Relations Commission recognizes June as African American Music Month
June is African American Music Appreciation Month! Created by proclamation of President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage through some of the different genres that African Americans have created, inspired, and fostered. Some of those genres are Sacred or Gospel, African American folk music, Blues, Jazz, Rock n’ Roll, Rhythm and Blues, and Hip Hop.
Sacred music, which includes spirituals and gospel music, illustrates the central role that music plays in African American spiritual and religious life.
African American folk music links back to African cultural traditions. Stemming from field hollers, work chants and game songs, folk music bursts with social commentary. Popular folk protest music spread in the 1960s, and its influence is still found within hip-hop today.
The Blues form the foundation of contemporary American music. Blues illustrated the social economic condition of numerous regions in the United State while celebrating its natural and cultural richness.
With Military Music, African Americans have always held a significant role in the armed services’ military band tradition. They participated in the fife and drum corps in numerous wars including the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. During World War I, and World War II, they toured the United States and Europe, entertaining civilian, and military audiences alike.
Jazz Music evolved from ragtime and blues. This African American musical innovation created a style often characterized by syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, deliberate deviations of pitch, and the use of original timbre. It is well-known for frequently being improvisational.
The predecessor to soul music, Rhythm & Blues is another stylistically diverse genre with roots in jazz, the blues and gospel music. R&B helped spread African American culture and popularized the idea of racial integration on the airwaves and in white society.
Rock 'n' Roll music incorporates elements from all African American music genres and combines them with American pop and country music components.
Hip Hop and Rap are musical traditions firmly embedded in African American culture. Like jazz, hip-hop has become a global phenomenon and has exerted a driving force on the development of mass media. While Rap remains a means for artists to voice opinions and share experiences regarding social and political issues.
The members of the Morganton Human Relations Commission encourages everyone to celebrate the month of June as African American Music Month. Take in some live music that celebrates this tradition at community activities in June, including the Jammi Jamm Multi-Cultural Arts Festival (June 24, 2023 from 10 am – 6 pm at the corner of Bouchelle & East Union St.) and TGIF Concert Series on the Courthouse Square each Friday night at 7 pm.
Written by Charlita Lytle, Commission Member
May 23, 2023
