“Hopefully my music is medicine, some type of antidote for something or some kind of explanation or just to feel good.”
–Erykah Badu
music in the black community
For many, music is personal, safe, familiar, and comforting. We listen to music no matter our moods, and tie memories to different lyrics.
Like Erykah Badu said, music is medicine.
Because of this, we’re not going to sit here and tell you about our favorite musicians or give you playlists to listen to. Instead, we’re going to highlight some songs from the Black community that describe their experiences in society.
We hope you get 2 things from these songs:
An understanding of what it’s like to be Black in America, and to see how racism hasn’t really gone away like we’re taught
Some new additions to your playlists
nina simone, “mississippi goddamn”
Lyrics to listen for:
“Picket lines
Schoolboy cots
They try to say it’s a communist plot
All I want is equality
For my sister, my brother, my people, and me”
2pac,“changes”
Lyrics to listen for:
“Cops give a damn about a negro
Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he’s a hero
Give the crack to the kids who the hell cares
One less hungry mouth on the welfare”
childish gambino, “This is america”
Lyrics to listen for
“You just a black man in this world
You just a barcode, ayy
You just a black man in this world
Drivin' expensive foreigns, ayy
You just a big dawg, yeah
I kenneled him in the backyard
No proper life to a dog
For a big dog”
beyonce ft. kendrick lamar, “freedom”
Lyrics to listen for
“Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice
Channel nine news tell me I'm movin' backwards
Eight blocks left, death is around the corner
Seven misleadin' statements 'bout my persona
Six headlights wavin' in my direction
Five-o askin' me what's in my possession”
billie holiday, “strange fruit”
Lyrics to listen for:
“Southern trees bearing strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the roots
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees”
queen latifah, “just another day”
lyrics to listen for
“Just another day, living in the hood
Just another day around the way
Feelin good today
I hear the(gunshot), but I'm here to stay”
want a playlist recommendation?
black lives matter
playlist on spotify
Listen to this playlist to explore songs of empowerment by Black artists.
sound stories: black music
Playlist on Spotify
Hear the stories behind some of your favorite songs.