May 29th, 2010 - As the start of the summer begins, we can't forget that June is Black Music Month.
A celebratory month to honor the contributions of those who pioneered, persevered, and are reveered for their musicial
genuis.
From the likes of Thomas Dorsey, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, and all the other true musicians who continue
to blaze the path of a genre that has permeated our American cultures for centuries, and centuries more to come.
Continuing
the tradition started in 2001 with then President George Bush, President Obama has issued a Proclamation recognizing the month of June as Black
Music Month.
"Music can tell a story, assuage our sorrows, provide
blessing
and redemption, and express a soul's sublime and
powerful beauty. It inspires us daily, giving voice to the
human spirit.
For many, including the African-American
community, music unites individuals through a shared heritage.
During African-American
Music Appreciation Month, we celebrate
the extraordinary legacy of African-American singers, composers,
and musicians,
as well as their indelible contributions to our
Nation and our world.
Throughout our history, African-American music has
conveyed
the hopes and hardships of a people who have struggled,
persevered and overcome. Through centuries of injustice, music
comforted
slaves, fueled a cultural renaissance, and sustained a
movement for equality. Today, from the shores of Africa and the
islands
of the Caribbean to the jazz clubs of New Orleans and
the music halls of Detroit, African-American music reflects the
rich
sounds of many experiences, cultures, and locales.
African-American musicians have created and expanded
a variety of
musical genres, synthesizing diverse artistic
traditions into a distinctive soundscape.
The soulful strains
of gospel, the harmonic and improvisational
innovations of jazz,
the simple truth of the blues, the rhythms of rock and roll, and
the urban themes of hip-hop all
blend into a refrain of song and
narrative that traces our Nation's history.
These quintessentially American styles of music have helped
provide
a common soundtrack for people of diverse cultures and
backgrounds, and have joined Americans together not just on the
dance
floor, but also in our churches, in our public spaces,
and in our homes. This month, we honor the talent and genius of
African-American
artists who have defined, shaped, and enriched
our country through music, and we recommit to sharing their
splendid
gifts with our children and grandchildren.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United
States of America, by virtue of the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do
hereby
proclaim June 2010 as African-American Music Appreciation
Month.
I call upon public officials, educators, and the people
of
the United States to observe this month with appropriate
activities and programs that raise awareness and foster
appreciation
of African-American music.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-eighth
day of May, in the year of our Lord
two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States
of America the two
hundred and thirty-fourth."
BARACK OBAMA
Well said, Mr. President. Thank you for those words.
Even as we celebrate this occasion, I'm still left with one question, however, .... With all the great music that makes
up our history, our culture, it is however, a continuous wonder how the same five songs get played over-and-over-and-over
on Black radio stations across America.
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