From Negro spirituals to popular music today, Black artists have used music as a source of strength and power to encourage African Americans and others to continue in their fight for freedom.
Consider the post-slavery spiritual, “Oh Freedom.” The lyrics are a declaration of hope: “Oh freedom. Oh freedom. Oh freedom over me. And before I’d be a slave, I’ll be buried in my grave, and go home to my Lord and be free.”
Then think about the 2016 song “Freedom,” by Beyoncé Knowles Carter’s and featuring Kendrick Lamar. “Freedom, freedom, I can’t move. Freedom, cut me loose. Singing, freedom, freedom, where are you? ‘Cause I need freedom, too. I break chains all by myself. Won’t let freedom rot in hell. Hey! I’ma keep running, ‘cause a winner don’t quit on themselves,” Carter sings emphatically.
Both songs promote resilience and strength – breaking beyond the chains of systemic racism and oppression that remain almost 160 years since the official end to American chattel slavery in 1865.
As the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the creators of Black History month, examine “African Americans and the Arts,” as its 2024 theme, Black music emerges as a critical artform that assists in pushing toward equity and justice for all.
“Why the Black Arts? Because we built this nation on the constructs of singing and music and rhythm, even when we were going through struggles… music allowed us to keep persevering and pressing forward,” Michele Folwin, artistic director of Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel told The Informer in a WIN-TV interview.
Through songs that stir spirits and rally movements, Black artists remind audiences of the power of African American music beyond February or June’s national recognition of Black Music Month.
Black artists constantly contribute to American culture overall.
“[African Americans’] creativity has given rise to distinctly American art forms that influence contemporary music worldwide and sing to the soul of the American experience,” President Joe Biden said to kickoff Black Music Month in 2023.
This February, in joining ASALH in celebrating “African Americans and the Arts,” be sure to listen to some of the Black musicians who have encouraged freedom and promoted Black power through their music.
Below are 20 songs that champion Black power and ignite the flame to continue the freedom fight, not only in February, but year round.
- “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson (1900)
- “We Shall Overcome” (1901)
- “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday (1939)
- “Mississippi Goddam,” by Nina Simone (1964)
- “A Change is Gonna Come,” by Sam Cooke (1964)
- “Say it Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud,” by James Brown (1968)
- “Ball of Confusion,” by The Temptations (1970)
- “What’s Going On?” the song and album by Marvin Gaye (1971)
- “The Revolution Will Not be Televised,” by Gil Scott-Heron
- “Happy Birthday,” by Stevie Wonder (1980)
- “Fight the Power,” by The Isley Brothers and Public Enemy (1975, 1989)
- “Keep Ya Head Up,” by Tupac (1993)
- “I Believe,” by Sounds of Blackness (1994)
- “They Don’t Really Care About Us,” by Michael Jackson (1996)
- “If I Ruled World (Imagine That),” by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill (1996)
- “Alright,” by Kendrick Lamar (2015)
- “Glory,” by Common and John Legend (2015)
- “Freedom,” by Beyonce featuring Kendrick Lamar (2016)
- “Road to Freedom,” Lenny Kravitz (2023)
- “Ceasefire,” by Ayana Gregory (2024)