Black leaders introduce resolution to recognize June as Black Music Month 

Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) led a group of more than 40 Democrats in introducing a resolution to recognize June as Black Music Month. 

The resolution declares that all American music and music around the world has been informed and shaped by Black music in ways that “transcends genres and styles,” from Negro spirituals to heavy metal. 

“Black music has shaped my life, shaped America, and influenced so many music genres. Black music is the soundtrack of our struggle and joy,” Brown, co-chair of the Congressional Rock and Roll Caucus, said in a statement.

“June is the month where we celebrate Juneteenth and the struggle for Black freedom,” she continued. “From concerts and playlists to museum exhibits and school programming, building up Black Music Month is an opportunity to educate and celebrate.”

In 1979, Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright and Dyana Williams came up with the idea to have a month dedicated to celebrating the impact of Black music, according to the National Museum of African American Music.

Together, the group urged then-President Jimmy Carter to host a reception on June 7 that year to formally recognize the cultural and financial contributions of Black music. 

“African American music is the heartbeat of American culture, detailing stories of struggle, triumph and unity,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), a co-sponsor of the resolution. “From jazz to hip-hop, its rhythms transcend borders, shaping the very essence of American identity. I am proud to represent Queens, New York, a borough that produced several notable musicians including John Coltrane, Lena Horne, LL Cool J and Nicki Minaj. It is only right that we recognize and celebrate the significance of Black music in our country and the impact that it has made around the globe.”

The month of celebration has been reestablished each year through presidential proclamations. 

This year, President Biden said in his proclamation that Black music is “a staple of American art and a powerhouse of our culture” that has “held a mirror to the good, the bad, and the truth of our Nation.”

“Black music began when enslaved people, who were cruelly prohibited from communicating in their native languages, found ways to express themselves through music,” Biden said. “Set to the sound of African rhythms, they captured the inhumanity, tragedy, and toll that America’s original sin took on their lives while also telling the stories of their hopes and dreams, faith and spirituality, and love and purpose. Ever since, Black performers have carried on that tradition of using art to break down barriers, create sacred spaces for expression, and give voice to the promise of America for all Americans.”

The resolution calls for the United States to recognize Black Music Month through programs that elevate the artistry, skill and talent of Black music and musicians; promote diversity, equity and inclusion; spread awareness of Black music’s impact and legacy; and honor and observe the deep-rooted history of Black music.

The resolution has been endorsed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the National Museum of African American Music and the Louis Armstrong House Museum.

“Throughout moments of sorrow and triumph, music has given Black Americans a language to express our experience,” said Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.), a co-lead on the resolution and co-chair of the Congressional Hip Hop Power and Justice Task Force.

“Rhythms from our African ancestors traveled with us to these shores, and out of our oppression and pain, we created new sounds, like gospel, blues, jazz and Hip-Hop. Black Music Month deserves to be recognized not just for its indelible mark on our history, but the ways it continues to give us a voice. Black Music is empowerment, and I’m honored to continue elevating it in the halls of Congress.”