Black Voices Playlist: Spotify | Youtube
Black History is happening daily. Just then, it happened. But if you’re not of the community, you might have missed its unique cadence. There it goes again and again, like the silent vibrations of a hummingbird. Duplicated, reconfigured, some might say stolen, Black history is always happening. The contributions of the Black community to American culture are immeasurable. With culture being one of America’s biggest exports to the world, the roots of today’s most famous sayings, dress styles, and music can all find a thread in Black history.
Growing up Black in the USA historically involved round table viewings of Our Friend, Martin, or memorizations of Maya Angelou’s poems on paperback, and who can forget the occasional re-airing of Amistad. But today feels different. Today Black history is more than just the past contributions of remarkable trailblazers; it includes the sounds of today and even tomorrow.
Black history today demands that we claim the Black National Anthem as the one and only gospel. That we rock our natural hair in locs, twists, and fades, or wigs and box braids without judgments. It requires that we uncover our forefathers’ wrongs and heal them, so the next generation’s road isn’t so long. It shares hope, love, and joy in the most non-binary and unconventional ways. It shows the process and no longer clings to perfection for fear of rejection. It screams louder than the generations before because it finally has found a more multiplicitous voice.
This month, we welcome you to dive deep into our thoughtfully curated Black History Month Sofar playlist on Spotify and YouTube that will feature a well-seasoned mix of sounds fit for any vibe. We’ll also be interviewing some budding creatives that we think should be on your radar. Because blackness isn’t monolithic, we encourage you to open your ears and eyes to something that might transform your relationship with BHM.
Words by Gyasi Williams-Kirtley
