Black History Month

The history of music in the United States dovetails closely with Black Americans’ history, as some of our greatest storytellers have conveyed the profound gravity of the enduring labor of trying to build a more just society that lives up to the ideals of our founding documents.

That struggle has consistently found its voice in song; From Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” to Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” to The Impressions’ “People Get Ready” to James Brown’s “Say It Out Loud -I’m Black And I’m Proud” to Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” to Childish Gambino’s “This Is America,” we can hear the echoes of 400 years of injustice in the iconic anthems that it has given rise to.

This Black History Month, we take the time to give thanks to our fore-bearers that have paved the road that led us here and reaffirm our commitment to continuing their legacy as we redouble our efforts to do the necessary work to create a nation where equal justice under the law is not just an aspiration, but a reality.