“Describing the African-American influence on American music in all of its glory and variety is an intimidating—if not impossible—task. African-American influences are so fundamental to American music that there would be no American music without them.”—Dr. Steven Lewis
Our focus has always been on the local music scene and it would be naive to pretend that the identities of the people who make the music, who book the musicians, who create and maintain the performance spaces do not play a role in local music. To ignore the massive influence of Black music on the sounds we cover today or the repeated injustices and racism Black people in our country face—the realities of many of the artists we’ve covered—would be to ignore our responsibility to provide our readers with holistic, truthful coverage.
As an Armenian, I understand too well the devastating consequences of genocide, of oppression based on identity, of a people benefiting economically from stolen lands and lives. Reparations and justice are words I grew up shouting, demanding. But also, as an Armenian-American, my community has collectively benefitted from whiteness granted to us through court cases, and therefore, of the subjugation of Black Americans and opportunities offered to us that were not extended to those deemed non-white.
It’s been a year since (what felt like) the height of public awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement. Systemic racism, coupled with the pandemic, has led to the deaths and murders of even more Black folks. So it’s time to share some reminders of actions, readings, and efforts we can all take to create a more inclusive, safe and just community for all.
We focused on gathering music-related resources here, as there is already an abundance of anti-racism materials out there. Alongside the below, I’d like to also recommend Hanif Abdurraqib’s They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us, a series of essays that capture Abdurraqib’s experience as a Black Muslim man in the US through the lens of concerts and music.
The Origins of American Music
Learn more about the roots of music in America, and Black legends like rock ’n’ roll queer icon Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Browse this timeline highlightime Black musicians’ influence on music. Listen to the 1619 project’s The Birth of American Music.
Podcasts
NPR’s Louder Than a Riot explores the interconnected rise of hip-hop and mass incarceration, Hanif Abdurraqib’s Object of Sound podcast dives into Afrofuturism and liberation, and the People’s Party with Talib Kweli covers a wide variety of topics.
Black Music Journalists & Music History
Check out this huge collection of books, articles, documentaries, series, podcasts and more about the Black origins of traditional and popular music dating from the 18th century to present day. Celebrate Black and Afro-identifying women guitarists with She Shreds’ list of 130 Historic Black Women Guitarists and Bassists You Need To Know.
Vote With Your Dollars: Support Black Businesses
Support local Black-owned or Black-run arts and culture organizations. There are a number of lists, including this, this and this one.
Learn which gear companies are supporting anti-racist organizations (like Boston’s Electronic Audio Experiments) and buy from them when possible. Check out She Shreds Magazine’s list and Guitar dot com’s list.
Conscious Collaboration
Work with Black producers, support Black labels, book Black artists: This spreadsheet has over a thousand Black producers, artists, and labels and their associated Bandcamp pages. Consider working with local, inclusive organizations and spaces like Hipstory, Dorchester Art Project and The Record Company.
Photography
Even color film was optimized for white people. Learn about the racist origins of calibrating photo printing in this Vox article and video.
Educate Yourself About Anti-Racism
There have been many resources and collections of educational materials created, but if you are still looking for a comprehensive guide, refer to A Compilation of Anti-Racism Resources For White & Non Black Musicians by She Shreds.
Read Books!
Around the time Chicago rapper Noname announced she would be stepping back from music and performances, she began a virtual and in-person Book Club. (Her mother once owned a bookshop.) Initiatives like Noname’s Book Club have done some of the work for us, as Noname and friends provide book suggestions each month that can help expand our understanding of Black folks’ reality, identity and culture.
Revisit Allston Pudding’s list of suggested readings. Find ways to continuously engage with works by Black artists and writers. And, be sure to support them directly; buy from bookshops that participate in and contribute to the local community or borrow through libraries rather than larger corporations like Amazon, which is known for its unfair treatment of their workers. Check out this list of Black and POC-owned bookstores across the country if you need a place to start.