Exploring Racism through Black Music by Mary Gretchen Segars

Exploring Racism through Black Music by Mary Gretchen Segars https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e Final project en-us 2020-07-20 12:27:35 UTC 2026-03-12 06:51:22 UTC hello@padlet.com Keedron Bryant- I Just Wanna Live https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/659496231 2020-07-21 19:41:41 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/659496231 About The Song https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/659496826 The title of the song attracted me from the playlists. “I just wanna live.” Keedron Bryant who sang this song is a teen gospel singer who is only 12 years old. After George Floyd was killed while in the custody of Minnesota police, Bryant sang a cappella, “I’m a Young Blck Man/Doing all that I can/ To stand.” which was written by his mom, Johnetta Bryant, and posted on social media.. And he says that he just wants to live! The lyrics express everything that everyone needs to hear and understand.

Keedron Bryant’s video shared by Barack Obama, Lupita Nyong’o, and LeBron James and it;s been viewed more than 3 million times. Now, Bryant has signed with Warner Records, who has released a studio version of “I Just Wanna Live.” and he wrote, “Just singing what’s on my heart. Hope this blesses someone.”

This song is very short, but has a clear and strong message. Here is the lyrics. - "I'm a young black man, doing all that I can to stand. Oh, but when I look around and I see what's being done to my kind every day, I'm being hunted as prey. My people don't want no trouble, we've had enough struggle. I just want to live. God, protect me, I just want to live."

He is singing, but also is wailing for life. He is singing, but also is shouting out for a living.

He sings this song in a cappella that means to sing without instrumental accompaniment. I think it makes me more sad. But also, I could see his hope that he can go out and enjoy life without having fear someday. And he stepped forward to change the world as singing his song.

]]> 2020-07-21 19:42:45 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/659496826 Keedron Bryant- I Just Wanna Live clarkemusic https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/660555201
The title of the song attracted me from the playlists. “I just wanna live.” Keedron Bryant who sang this song is a teen gospel singer who is only 12 years old. After George Floyd was killed while in the custody of Minnesota police, Bryant sang a cappella, “I’m a Young Blck Man/Doing all that I can/ To stand.” which was written by his mom, Johnetta Bryant, and posted on social media. And he says that he just wants to live! The lyrics express everything that everyone needs to hear and understand. ]]> 2020-07-23 00:38:28 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/660555201 clarkemusic https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/660558394 Keedron Bryant’s video shared by Barack Obama, Lupita Nyong’o, and LeBron James and it;s been viewed more than 3 million times. Now, Bryant has signed with Warner Records, who has released a studio version of “I Just Wanna Live.” and he wrote, “Just singing what’s on my heart. Hope this blesses someone.”

]]> 2020-07-23 00:42:47 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/660558394 John Coltrane: Alabama https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/660990765 This solemn piece honors the lives of the four girls killed in a bombing while attending Sunday School in Birmingham, AL. What I didn't know about this piece is that Coltrane's inspiration and the instrumental patterns were drawn from Reverend Martin Luther King's "Eulogy for the Martyred Children", which was delivered a few months before this song was written.

There is a palpable ache in the music, as the instrumentalists lament the lives lost. I've never thought about it before, but I think this would be an amazing piece for my elementary music students. I read that when Coltrane gave the music to his quartet, he did not share what it is about. This is often done in music class - to play something without explanation at first to gather interpretations before diving in. Additionally, this song could be used in arts integration lessons at all ages because the music truly speaks louder than words and would evoke meaningful reflection.

Rhiannon Giddens's take on the folk song Birmingham Sunday makes a nice pairing. She's one of my favorite artists, and I've learned a lot from her concerts and writings about the history of Black music. I highly recommend having a listen to Birmingham Sunday and really anything else by her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_T5KlTpvoM]]> 2020-07-23 12:59:59 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/660990765 Meshell Ndegeocello: To Be Young, Gifted and Black https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661013859 Oh, my...this is a truly magical cover of Nina Simone's tune - the forthright words of affirmation mingled with the tenderness of the delivery are so moving. I can't wait to use it for movement activities in my elementary music room. I've been working on decentering Whiteness in my teaching practice, and this is a perfect addition to my toolbox.

One danger music teachers face is erroneously thinking that we don't have the same issues as other teachers with regards to anti-racism because our repertoire is so multi-cultural. I've been realizing how much Whiteness can still be the dominant paradigm in the delivery of a multi-cultural curriculum.

Back to "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" -- the words call to mind a song I've always loved that Ricky Ian Gordon wrote for the talented soprano, Harolyn Blackwell in 1993 on a poem by Langston Hughes:

"The night is beautiful
so the faces of my people

The stars are beautiful
so the eyes of my people

Beautiful also is the sun;
also are the souls of my people"]]> 2020-07-23 13:32:54 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661013859 Jay Z: The Story of O.J. https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661088342 In looking into this song, I learned that it was listed as one of the top songs that shaped the last decade by Billboard Magazine. I don't remember hearing it before, but it is hard to shake now that I have -- Jay Z wrote it in response to O.J. Simpson's remark "I'm not black, I'm O.J." The lyrics portray the way blacks are viewed in our culture...that having black skin supersedes any individual achievement or characteristic.

It is a challenging song to listen to for me, and watching the video, with portrayals of black peoples' experiences in cartoon images, felt uncomfortable and almost confrontational (it almost felt wrong to be watching it...like something I shouldn't be viewing, and, for me, the cartoon images made it even more uncomfortable than photos or videos might have.)

Leaning into the theme of money, it makes me glad for the rallying cry to support black owned businesses the last few months. I hope that society isn't distracted from that message as time continues on.

Finally, really cool shout out to Nina Simone, with a sample of 'My Skin is Black' running throughout the song.]]> 2020-07-23 15:02:15 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661088342 The Last Poets: When the Revolution Comes https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661117171 This summer I have been reading some studies on white music teachers using Hip-Hop in the classroom -- black students' perceptions of their white teachers, teaching methods, etc. One thing I've learned is that a common pitfall for music teachers is to present Hip-Hop as just another musical genre to teach musical concepts in the curriculum - in other words, to use it for the sole purpose of teaching rhythmic elements, removed from the themes of social justice. I was thinking about that as I listened to "When the Revolution Comes." What a disservice it would be to focus instruction just on doing a rhythmic dictation of the percussion or spoken word of this song! I was reading a little bit about The Last Poets as I listened to their first album, and found a quote from founder Abiodun Oyewole that sticks with me. He said their group was founded as a direct result of their anger over the killing of Martin Luther King Jr and they marked their debut on what would have been Malcolm X's 43rd birthday:

“Growing up, I was scheduled to be a nice little colored guy. I was liked by everybody. But when they killed Dr King, all bets were off.” (Abiodun Oyewole)

Until recently, I haven't put a lot of thought into the social justice roots of Hip-Hip. Truthfully, I just haven't put a lot of thought into Hip-Hop period. I do some composition exercises with late elementary that perhaps mimic the style, but I haven't tied that to anti-racism or social justice in general. I think that's a subtle shift with a potentially big impact going forward.

]]> 2020-07-23 15:36:45 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661117171 Benjamin Clementine: God Save the Jungle https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661140425 "Old alien in foreign lands again
You better beat it and go back home" (from God Save the Jungle)

What an unbelievable artist! Listening to this song led me to a hearing of both his albums (2015 and 2017) and he is an incredibly distinctive voice in music - he defies categorization and will be a regular in my playlists.

"God Save the Jungle" makes dark references to the Calais camp (referred to as the 'jungle') in France, where migrants and refugees awaited entrance into the United Kingdom.
This song sticks with you...the way he weaves in the tune from 'God Save the Queen' but with a twist, by using the word 'jungle' in place of 'queen', as well as shooting past the tonic (the expected landing note)on the word 'jungle' -- so so good! Stop everything and listen now!

]]> 2020-07-23 16:07:08 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661140425 Nas – Cops Shot the Kid https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661261312 “White kids are brought in alive/Black kids get lit like five”]]> 2020-07-23 18:53:50 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661261312 Q.U.E.E.N - Janelle Monae https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661264255 This song is for anyone who has felt oppressed or ostracized. It also helps empower people - they can feel a connection and also know that there are all other people going through the same thing. I think this song would be good for kids to hear in school because I think you can have some good discussions about different types of people - cultural relativity.

Q – Queer, LGBTQ

U – Untouchables – people living in poverty

E – Emigrants – forced to leave their country

E – Excommunicated – serving or have served time in prison

N – Negroid – black people of all origins

]]> 2020-07-23 18:58:55 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661264255 Q.U.E.E.N https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661267539 2020-07-23 19:04:19 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661267539 "The Blacker the Berry" bmartin62 https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661272055 2020-07-23 19:12:01 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661272055 Teyana Taylor - A Rose in Harlem https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661273927 Both Teyana Taylor and Tupac used the symbolic image of a rose growing out concrete in their songs. Both rise from very little and create their own path/destiny. Taylor’s song uses love as way to “get back” at people that have treated poorly and are jealous of what she is trying to accomplish.” But I ain’t callin’ no names out, No, no free promotion”. The background stanza of “ Rose in Harlem” is soothing and calm. ]]> 2020-07-23 19:14:41 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661273927 A Rose in Harlem https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661277171 2020-07-23 19:20:12 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661277171 Tupac https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661279715 2020-07-23 19:24:18 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661279715 The Rose that Grew From The Concrete https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661280596 2020-07-23 19:25:39 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661280596 Queen Ifrica - Lioness on the Rise https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661281594 Love this song. Have been listening to it on repeat since I first heard it. The beat and lyrics are awesome. She wants people to go out and be a part of the community and make. It’s time to take a stand and people that have a platform need to use it. Her combination of reggae, soul, and dancehall come through in this song. In interviews she discusses combining different types of music from her country.]]> 2020-07-23 19:27:19 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661281594 https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661282862 2020-07-23 19:29:19 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661282862 Lift Every Voice and Sing - Hymn https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661283428 2020-07-23 19:30:24 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661283428 Melba Moore and Friends https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661283785 2020-07-23 19:31:06 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661283785 Beyonce https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661284374 2020-07-23 19:32:23 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661284374 Doughboy - Hip Hop https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661284556 2020-07-23 19:32:45 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661284556 Lift Every Voice and Sing https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661285007 Written as a poem for Abraham Lincoln’s birthday by James Weldon Johnson and set to music by his brother. 500 school kids from the Stanton School were the first to sing it. The NAACP adopted the song and many consider it the Black National Anthem. The poem is about hope, fighting injustice, community, and fighting for freedom. It will be played at NFL games this year, which is one way the NFL is trying to support Black Lives Matter. I picked a couple different versions of the song because I thought each offered something different. It was interesting to look at the comments for the song. Many (I assume white people) complaining about how there is a second national anthem and that shouldn’t there be only one anthem that unites people. I think they are forgetting that not everyone is treated equal in this country.]]> 2020-07-23 19:33:40 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661285007 "Closing: The Chosen Ones" bmartin62 https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661344546 "You know, our great-great-grandfathers and grandmothers that came here, they found some kind of way to make the rhythm. You know, and they kept rhythm, no matter what"

I cried. There's something about talking about generations and perseverance that really gets to me. And, wow, just the spoken words about keeping the rhythm going- rhythm of life, rhythm of the spirituals to get them through the day, and the rhythm of their own heartbeat and bloodline.

These first two songs I've chosen (Lamar and Solange) demonstrate the history of racism and what people have done to get through it.

One of my favorite things about Lexington's mindset in both English and history classrooms, is its focus on perspectives. We are already trying to teach the idea of cultural relativity- how do we step outside ourselves and try to understand others? Identifying my own lens and personal biases is one of the first steps.]]> 2020-07-23 21:17:50 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661344546 The Roots - What They DoI chose this song because I have listened to The Roots before but did not know this song. Watching the music video, I was a bit surprised at first when they showed a mansion and a fancy car, men sitting around a table drinking champagne and women in bikinis dancing on tables. I thought “hmm that’s odd, I didn’t think The Roots were about that?” As the song continues, I think they are mocking this style of music video as the lyrics announce, “The principles of true hip-hop have been forsakenIt's all contractual and about money makin” . This connects to the video we watched where Bell Hooks explains that the top record sales of hip hop/rap music were coming from white suburban neighborhoods who wanted to buy into the rap fantasy of a fast life, money and easy women. I love that The Roots stood up to call out this exploitation happening in the music industry. https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661420651 2020-07-23 23:58:11 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661420651 A Tribe Called Quest -Whateva Will BeI chose this song because I have heard of this group many times but never have taken the time to listen to them on my own. Hearing the first few lyrics reminded me of the sad reality of mass incarceration in the United States for people of color. I have read books and watched documentaries on this issue. One of the most powerful quotes (that I cannot remember verbatim) by Bryan Stevenson was about how mass incarceration is evolution of slavery. As a white woman, it is difficult to imagine walking in the shoes of a person of color knowing that, as the song states, there are assumptions and expectations by society that you are automatically a criminal because of the color of your skin. “Say am I 'posed to be dead or doin' life in prison?Just another dummy caught up in the systemUnruly hooligan who belongs in Spofford’ Verse gettin' that degree at Stanford or Harvard” https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661421456 2020-07-23 23:59:09 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661421456 Jay Z - The Story of OJ.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM7lw0Ovzq0 https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661434433
What a powerful song with a melancholy tone
Imagery depicting the cultural assumptions and expectations of people of color. ]]> 2020-07-24 00:18:26 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661434433 I made this word cloud from the lyrics of 3 of the songs from the list.. https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661441213 2020-07-24 00:28:34 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661441213 I put my work into a Google Presentation. Hope you like it! (The format is what I often use in class.) I explored Nina Simone's "Backlash Blues," which was based on a poem by Langston Hughes. I found another great piece by Simone called "Four Women." I included Chuck Berry's "Promised Land," which was popularized by the white hipster Elvis. The Grateful Dead often paid tribute to Berry's song in performing it. I also added a poem by Nikki Giovanni, which has the "black is beautiful" theme -- it's a lovely poem and it's performed by a choir here. Links and lyrics are included. -- John https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661613724 2020-07-24 04:19:40 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661613724 I just found online a tag for "Hip Hop Speaks to Children." Nikki Giovanni, a black poet, put this together in 2008. It has poetry, illustrations and a CD with it. You can find it on Amazon. It was a bestseller when it was published and is highly recommended for teachers (and other people!). -- John https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661790782 2020-07-24 11:28:39 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/661790782 Public Enemy: Fight the Power 1989 & 2020 rstrizhak https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662148745 Gotta love Flava Flave! Ahem, anyways: Public Enemy formed in 1986 in Long Island. They are credited with creating "a form of hip hop that was radical both politically and sonically. . no group has ever had so much to say with so much urgency" (BBC).The background for the writing of this song was in 1988 Spike Lee saying he needed "an anthem" for his movie, Do the Right Thing.He specifically asked for a song that was about the racial tension in Brooklyn. According to an interview with Time Magazine, Lee said, "I wanted it to be defiant, I wanted it to be angry, I wanted it to be very rhythmic. I thought right away of Public Enemy." The first thing a listener notices is the drum beat-- it was upbeat and feels energetic. Chuck D has said that "the drums had to feel like African war drums. . ." (Guardian. Apparently there are a lot of samples that I would not have recognized. All of the music creates a sound of chaos, energy, and tension held together by Chuck D's rapping. The complexity of all the samples looped in floors me. Similarly, the lyrics are often allusions-- 'my beloved' alludes to MLK's hope for a "beloved community," church services, civil rights samples. and James Brown and Afrika Bambaataa are also alluded to. There are a ton more that I would have to research separately. This complexity took me by surprise, I have to admit. It's not that I thought hip hop was simple. At the same time, the looping and layers of cultural references was astounding. The fact that the song was remixed for the BET Awards this past year demonstrates how prescient and timeless this song is. Sections were named specifically: 'The Information Age', 'Rapsody,' and 'Black Thought' are a few. The original version calls for the black community to stand up and fight back and rolls its eyes at liberal antiracism in favor of a more direct approach. The 2020 version is much more focused and specific. Challenging whiteness, Chuck D mentioned Elvis and John Wayne in the original as not being anything to him even though they are seen as heroes 'to most.' The remix rips from the headlines: George Floyd, Police brutality, and a nod to the superficial knowledge many people have about Black history: 'You love Black Panther but not Fred Hampton.' I know I am rambling--There is just so much in this song to think about.Another great line is "If racism is the cancer, black thought's the answer." Black militancy is on the back burner here. Intellectual thought and pride are at the helm. Lastly, the remix directly comments on antiracism of 'smashin' your power structure, melanin royal/regal system designed to kill and unprotect. . .' I could see using this song in class as a connection between DuBois or Garvey speeches and the reality of life on the streets in many of our cities.]]> 2020-07-24 23:06:32 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662148745 A Tribe Called Quest--Whateva will Be has a simple beat that causes the listener to focus on the lyrics.The group has been together since 1985 and this song was released in 2016 after rapper Phife Dawg died suddenly. The group is regarded as a pioneer of alternative hip hop. This song focuses on the social issues black people face and, similarly to Fight the Power, notes that only the strong will survive. The first verse ends: Fourth grade reading level but he knows how to rap/Are you amused by our struggles? The English that's broken?/The weed that I'm smokin'? The guns that I'm totin'?/The drugs that I'm sellin'? No need for improvement/Fuck you and who you think I should be, forward movement. The assumptions of white people about black people and the stereotypes of black lives are challenged here. Cultural relativity needs to be engaged in order to fully appreciate and 'hear' A Tribe Called Quest's message that the negatives assumed about their race is an obstacle to be overcome but the odds are stacked against that happening.The second verse calls out the media for perpetuating one version of black life: "The media relates it what it thinks it sees". There is hope, however:'Yes, the government will fund, learning is free for everyone/And from that lie, young leaders will rise/In the eyes of despair and adversity/In some universe, this verse will be true." This was a much more 'chill' listen than Public Enemy was. It also calls out whiteness as white people's assumptions about black people are directly and unapologetically stated.I could see using this song in discussions about Song of Solomon. rstrizhak https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662161446 2020-07-24 23:49:43 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662161446 Kendrick Lamar--Blacker the Berry This song was brilliant and I am still trying to figure it all out. Lamar's voice is the focus with a beat in the background. The song is an angry call to arms in light of the racism and stereotypes black people face. He calls out the US law enforcement system as a whole, including the CIA, DEA, and the prison system.And he then turns his anger on those who commit black-on-black violence. This last bit is controversial, clearly, and has been accused of victim blaming. He also, however, directly challenges whiteness by breaking that fourth wall and asking white people "you hate me don't you?" There are allusions here to Mike Brown's death and the Ferguson Riots, as well as the CIA's role in introducing crack cocaine to the poor. He states that he is a hypocrite three times and at the end: "So don't matter how much I say I like to preach with the Panthers/Or tell Georgia State, "Marcus Garvey got all the answers"/Or try to celebrate February like it's my B-Day/Or eat watermelon, chicken, and Kool-Aid on weekdays/Or jump high enough to get Michael Jordan endorsements/Or watch BET 'cause urban support is important/So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street/When gang banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me?Hypocrite!" Some intriguing names dropped and the question is who is the "I" in the song? Seemingly, by considering these last lines, it is a collective "I", which also means that it is the collective' you, as the listener-- all are complicit. rstrizhak https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662166694 The podcast I linked to connects 'Blacker the Berry' to DuBois' "double consciousness" concept.]]> 2020-07-25 00:08:39 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662166694 Bad Brains: Banned in DC made me feel like I was a kid in 1980s suburbia listening through the wall as my brother alternatively blasted jazz and then punk and then metal...This album was recorded over a 10 year span of 1979-1989 but was released in 2003. Vocals, bass, drum, and guitar-- it is so very '80s. According to 'Blackthen.com', Bad Brains 'is a pioneer of the sonic, aggressive hardcore punk style with influences from reggae, punk, hard rock, and metal. It definitely goes against stereotype and I am so glad I chose this song to hear black artists creating something not only unexpected but also to call to attention my own bias. They incorporated "PMA" in all that they did--a positive mental attitude, which kinda seems to contradict punk as a genre.Fun fact: they inspired the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Who knew?! Another good link: https://www.rollingstone.com/t/bad-brains/ rstrizhak https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662172214 2020-07-25 00:29:14 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662172214 Beyonce, Saint Jhn, Wizkid & Blue Ivy: Brown Skin Girl rstrizhak https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662176113 This song is beautiful and fits into my "pretty" music aesthetic. When Beyonce sings starting in the third verse, I got literal goosebumps. The sound has the African drum 'feel'-- one review I read called it "spare, syncopated African rhythms" Saint Jhn is Guyanese and Wizkid is Nigerian. This song celebrates cultural pride and female empowerment, while also dealing with the colorism that darker-skinned women face. Allusions include Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong'o, and Kelly Rowland. And the song ends with Blue Ivy's voice. This song led to a Brown Skin Girl Challenge on Twitter, which is very cool. (https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9424440/scott-helman-papa). The new generation of black girls growing up with songs like this, poems like "Please Don't Touch My Hair," and books like "I am Enough" and 'Sulwe' are being given a gift that their mothers did not have. This song does not come without critique, however, as some women felt that they were being shut out for not being dark-skinned enough. The fact that Beyonce, a woman who has lighter skin, stays in the background and centers dark-skinned women is essential and needs to be seen as what it is--an ode to the darker-skinned women who are often dismissed or disrespected by society. I keep thinking of Zora Neale Hurston's Janie from Their Eyes Were Watching God.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/beyonc-s-brown-skin-girl-controversial-because-its-inclusionary-vision-ncna1034686 ]]> 2020-07-25 00:41:46 UTC https://padlet.com/msegars/gnvcji27rksu5p5e/wish/662176113