In my personal statement for law school, I described my life as a soundtrack, with each phase of my story consisting of a different and beautiful composition. At the time I thought it was clever. That delusion came to a halt when I overheard another classmate explaining to an undergrad that she wrote a similar personal statement. I felt so cliché.
Nevertheless, I still believe in the power of music in a very literal sense, and the power of music as a metaphor. And at the risk of being cliché again, I want to return to the power of music both as a metaphor and a form of narrative. Songs capture the mood, culture, and sentiments of an era and a people. They are historical items that if unpacked, hold invaluable information. This is certainly true when it comes to Black American music.
That is why my new series looks at Black American History through the lens of Black American music. Our songs reflect our past, present, and future. I wanted to dedicate this next series to curating a collection of music that embodies our story.
Initially I wanted to call this series the “Black American History Mixtape,” but then I remembered I was in the 21st century and there are a lot of young folks roaming the earth who have no idea what a tape is, let alone a mixtape. Therefore, this will be the “Black American History Playlist” series. Each week I will take a song and unpack its significance in Black American history and what we can learn about Black American culture.
Obviously, I cannot include every song that holds significance, but I will discuss those that have resonated with me. The significance of each song may derive from what it meant during the height of its popularity (e.g. “We Shall Overcome”), or songs who are more obscure, but the content speaks to our story.
I admit this is a subjective list, and if you find yourself disagreeing with a song selection, then feel free to let me know. I would love to get your feedback and suggestions on songs. I’m always looking to increase my music library anyway, and what is blacker than arguing over music (probably arguing over spades).
While I write this playlist, I will also quite literally create a playlist that you can follow on Spotify. Each week when I release a new article, I will also add the latest song(s) that I’m discussing.
So, stay tuned. Starting next week, I will be dropping my first article in the series. I like to operate in a linear fashion, but I have a feeling I may be jumping back and forth between eras. Nevertheless, I will attempt to start early in Black American history. Here’s a hint at my first song; it’s a spiritual. Check back next week to see if you can guess which one it is.
Until Next Time
-Palooke-
I’m excited to see be educated through your playlist because I know you will bring it.