President Biden recently released his statement recognizing June as Black Music Appreciation Month.
“Throughout the decades and across the country, Black music has fueled a myriad of genres — from rhythm and blues to jazz, gospel, country, rap and more,” said the president in the statement that was released on Thursday. “This month, we celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Black music on American culture and recognize the indelible impact it continues to have on the world.”
“The music created by Black artists continues to influence musicians of all persuasions, entertain people of all backgrounds, and shape the story of our Nation,” he added.
Although the creation of the month is credited to former President Jimmy Carter when he officially recognized the month in 1979, Black Music Appreciation Month was conceptualized by Kenny Gamble, a producer who helped shape the Philadelphia soul sound.
Inspired by the Country Music Association’s Country Music Month in Nashville, Gamble set out to make Black Music Appreciation Month a reality in 1978. With the help of artists, media strategists and DJs, the month of celebration was signed into law by Carter less than a year after the campaign began.
In honor of the month, here are five events and museums to attend to help celebrate Black artists and their music.
- Indiana Juneteenth Freedom Music Festival featuring What the Funk Tour: On June 18, the Indiana Juneteenth Freedom Music Festival will be honoring Juneteenth and funk music through performances by funk legends. Held at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre in Indiana, the festival’s lineup includes Zapp, the Bar-Kays, Trouble Funk, Klymaxx with Bernadette Cooper and more. To attend the event, tickets range from $63 to $88.
- Hyde Park Summer Fest: Held from June 11 to June 12, the Hyde Park Summer Fest focuses on celebrating hip hop and house DJs in the place where the genres originated- Chicago. This year’s festival marks the festival’s comeback following a brief hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic Set to be held at Midway Plaisance Park, the festival’s 2022 performers include Ashanti, Jhene’ Aiko, Lupe Fiasco and more. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, organizer Jonathan Swain revealed that ticket sales will in part go to fund Chicago Public Schools. Tickets for the event now cost $109 per day.
- Delta Blues Museum: Located in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the Delta Blues Museum is known as the “world’s first museum dedicated to the blues.” The museum’s main focus is on the history of blues and its origins in the Delta region. In their exhibits, the museum pays tribute to blues legends, such as John Lee Hooker, through pictures and memorabilia. Their latest exhibit is dedicated to Trumpet Records, a label that helped release tracks by blues greats like Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson and Big Joe Williams. To visit the museum, general admission costs $12 and children under six are allowed to enter for free.
- Afropunk: Initially a small festival in Brooklyn catered towards Black alternative fans, Afropunk has grown into a celebration of multiple genres featuring past performers such as Lauryn Hill and Solange. This year, from June 18 to June 19, the Afropunk Festival will be held in Minneapolis. While the festival has been held in a variety of places like Miami and Paris, it’ll be held in the midwest for the first time in its history. On the first day, the festival will feature a panel and community events based around topics such as culture and Black future. The musical performances will then take place on the second day. This year’s performers include Ari Lennox, Noname, Mereba and more. To attend, single-day passes cost $70 each while two-day passes cost $130 each.
- Musical Crossroads: Located at the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington D.C., this exhibit features historical items that relate to Black artists that have impacted a variety of genres, including hip hop, rock, blues and more. The items in the exhibit include a vest worn by Jimi Hendrix, tap shoes that were once owned by Sammy Davis Jr, Thomas Dorsey’s rehearsal piano and the Public Enemy S1 Uniform. The museum is free to attend, but entry passes, which can be reserved online, are required.
