Why Music Matters Now
By Kimberly Seals
If you are familiar with The Black National Anthem, you have heard the opening lines of, “Lift every voice and sing”. This sentiment is just as pertinent today as it was in 1900 when brothers, James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson wrote it. For Black people generations and the world over, music is far more than artistic expression. For us, music is a lifeline to each other, our past, our future, and our freedom. This connection is just as important today as it has ever been.
More than just music
African Americans never lost their connection to the music of their homeland. They brought knowledge of drums, banjos, and xylophones along with re-imagined tribal dances and melodies to help them endure the circumstances of forced enslavement (Robinson). Much like our hair, music is more than a simple aesthetic. During slavery, Negroe spirituals were used to impart belief systems and send coded messages to other enslaved peoples (Robinson). In this way, music has always been a way to connect us to our past and to each other in the present moment.
More than just the past
The legacy of Black Americans does not begin nor end with slavery. We are all making history in this moment, and music is a huge part of that. Through music, we are able to share encouragement, revolution, and love. Everything, from protest songs to the old school jams that make you feel good, is a part of an ever growing legacy that runs through our veins. If you listen closely, you will hear the voices of millions coming together for change.
