The Soul that Helps me Breathe: Black Music

I am a 90’s baby and I am not ashamed of it! I feel like we might just be the best generation yet. Okay, well, sometimes I do wish I were born earlier so I can be amongst some of our greats like Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, Tupac Shakur, and many more. I would love to pick their brains and hear their voice; I would love to ask them what it takes to have such a beautiful soul that never breaks. Even though I wish this, I believe there is something that continues to withstand time whether you were born in the 90’s or the early 50’s. This something does not really take a conversation with the creator in order to understand the meaning.

Our music helps us express what the soul feels; the feelings that one cannot express simply through an one-on-one conversation.

People may not know this, but I love music. For almost 22 years, all I heard in my household was the soulful sounds and voices of people like Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Brandy, and many more. Even at a young age I was singing, “Have You Ever?” by Brandy like I really knew what she was singing about. Now, I understand what Brandy was talking about. However, back then, I am pretty sure I did not love someone so much that it made me cry. I just loved her voice and I loved the music because my family did.

I am sure you have as well. Hearing that beginning sound of the Gap Band’s “Outstanding”! Or while at the family get together, grandma would pour her a glass of the “special” drink and listen to the O’Jays’ “I really miss you Brandy. Missin’ you everyday”; while uncles, dads, heck all of the men would be in the garage playing dominoes while blasting either Ice Cube’s “Today was a Good Day” or Zapp and Roger’s “More Bounce to the Ounce”! You knew, even as a little kid, that everything was going to be okay. This music was Euphoric. It still is Euphoric.

I take these melodies, soulful, heart-wrenching, feel-good-to-the soul, and head bobbing songs I heard for almost 22 years in my Black household with me all of the time. Everywhere and anywhere (except for in lectures or meetings) I have my earphones in. When I have my earphones in, the world is really OFF! Do not ask me any questions. Do not stop me in the hallway to talk about anything important because most likely I do not want to hear it. Just do not interrupt the greatness flowing through my ears. I am listening to the soul that helps me breathe: Black Music.

Langston Hughes once said, “Blues had the pulse beat of the people who keep on going”. That is what Black music is. Whether it is in our Gospel, our Rhythm and Blues, or our Hip-Hop. The music made by us is made for us.

Many could argue that White musicians such as Teena Marie, Adele, and Eminem mastered their craft in the music genre they were apart of. In some way, that is true. However, the truth of the matter is that they will never experience what we have. That, “mmm, lord” in the middle of a gospel song isn’t a lyric; it is a cry because you have no other words to express the pain or the deep joy. They can experience poverty and love, but not Black poverty or Black love and how much beautiful joy and pain it can bring.

Since Black History Month has started, I was thinking of a way to celebrate it and came up with this little idea. For the next 18 days, I am going to take the time to remind the world and myself how important the soul of Black music is. The people I choose will range from Mahalia Jackson to Fred Hammond. From Public Enemy to Kendrick Lamar. From Billie Holiday to Jazmine Sullivan.

I know I won’t get all of the greatest hits. My list may not even contain the same Black musicians that feed your soul. However, I am going to share them anyways. I am going to share the ones that feed my soul, my mom’s soul, and possibly some other people’s soul.

When I talk about Black music, I am focusing on Black-American music. I know that there are many people who are of the African diaspora and can say that Black music is everywhere Black people are. However, I also understand that we all have different cultures and views of our music. I may have heard a song from a Caribbean or Ghanian artist and liked it, but I do not want to act like I know what the song means. I do not want to take that away from folks who come from those places and know wayyy more than me. So, feel free to do your own if you would like!