Mother Baltimore: Black Music Month
June is Black Music Month. The annual observance is the result of the work from Black music industry professionals Dyana Williams and Kenny Gamble who wanted recognition for Black music’s impact. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter issued a decree that made June the official month for honoring the various contributions of Black music to American culture. However, those plans weren’t fully manifested until 2000 when Williams worked on drafting House Resolution 509, aka The African-American Music Bill, which was signed by President Bill Clinton.
Since then, the ingenuity of Black musicianship and its gargantuan influence on society is celebrated during the month of June. Last June, the Belleville News-Democrat created an editorial project that explored the history and legacy of music in East St. Louis. Each week featured a story dedicated to a musician from the area.
And we’re still interested in learning more. The Belleville News-Democrat wants to widen our coverage to include the arts and culture scene in the metro-east. We need your help. Help us tell more stories about people from the metro-east making an impact on the arts and culture scene in our region and beyond. Who are the emerging creative artists shaping the future of music, dance, the theater, film, sculpture, television, writing, photography and other arts? Tell us your ideas by completing this survey or contacting me via email or phone 618-239-2624
Now, here’s the latest news in southwestern Illinois:
The music? Bold. The crowd? Huge. This East St. Louis venue empowers Black musicians.
Local Legends Listening Room and Cigar Bar opened three years ago in East St. Louis. Since then, the venue has rapidly created a safe space for Black musicians in the area to grow and hone their craft. BND reporter DeAsia Paige talked to the owners of the venue and artists who’ve performed there about its impact in the community.
More on music in East St. Louis:
East St. Louis music venue made for musicians and listening
East St. Louis has a rich musical history. It deserves to be celebrated
“This is a call to action”: East St. Louis residents rally to end street violence
Last month, East St. Louis held a rally and parade to bring more awareness to gun violence in the city and its impact on youth. Former BND intern Devese Ursery covered the event, which featured a host of speakers from the community sharing their experiences with gun violence.
“This is a call to action,” a speaker at the event said. “It’s not normal that our young men consider making it to the age of 18 a milestone in our community. It screams hopelessness, defeat. It’s not normal.”
More on community responses to gun violence in ESTL:
Turning grief into activism, an East St. Louis mom won’t let people forget about her son’s murder
Mother wants justice for son murdered in 2020 during East St. Louis shooting
Overnight standoff in Cahokia comes to an end with one man in custody
A suspect in Cahokia Heights is now in custody after an overnight standoff with police, which occurred last week. The origin of the standoff is unclear, but the incident began last Thursday night after shots were fired on Trendley Avenue. The suspect retreated to his home on Piggott Avenue, where he held children hostage. The children were placed in protective custody, according to police.
More on crime in the metro-east:
East St. Louis educators rally to end gun violence
Man charged with killing prominent Edwardsville couple found unfit to stand trial
What to do
This section of Mother Baltimore highlights upcoming events in the metro-east that are relevant to Black communities. If you have tips for events, send them to dsutgrey@bnd.com
East St. Louis Juneteenth and 618 Day Celebration
Saturday, June 18 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at various locations
Next Saturday, East St. Louis will host a day-long event to commemorate Juneteenth and 618 Day. The festivities begin with a 5K run and health fair at city hall, located at 301 River Park Drive. It’ll end with a block party at the Clyde C. Jordan Senior Citizen Center. For more information, click here
What to watch
Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls
In her new show, Grammy-winning superstar Lizzo doesn’t give viewers a typical reality competition series. Instead, she offers an inspiring, endearing glimpse at what it takes to be her back-up dancer while highlighting the grit and varied experiences of performers whose appearances don’t fit society’s standard of what a dancer should look like. Outcasts are the protagonists and celebrated on “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrls”. All episodes of Season 1 are available to stream on Amazon Prime.
What to read
Black Music Month: 15 Books About the Impact of Black Music on Pop Culture
Speaking of Black Music Month, Teen Vogue compiled a list of books that are helpful for understanding Black artists’ impact on society. The list includes authors like Danyel Smith, Daphne A. Brooks, Shea Serrano and more. In the article, Jaelani Turner-Williams writes:
Black music’s influence on popular culture is immense. Michael and Janet Jackson changed the pop genre forever. Missy Elliott redefined women’s place in Hip-Hop as a lyrical and sex-positive trailblazer. Without Josephine Baker, the power of performance would look nothing like it does today. Reading books that both appreciate Black music’s existence and celebrate its artists’ contributions to global pop culture is just as necessary as streaming their work on the daily.
That’s all she wrote!
Talk to y’all in two weeks!
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