Honoring Black Voices Through Music and Poetry

During our February discussion group, we explored how Black voices have shaped American culture throughout history. Much of our conversation centered on the profound influence Black artists have had on nearly every genre of American music — and how often those foundational contributions have been overlooked, minimized, or erased. We were struck by when many of these works were created and by how powerfully they still resonate today, reminding us that progress toward racial equity has been uneven and incomplete.

Together, we asked difficult questions: Why do societies so often fail to learn from the harms of the past, allowing injustice and division to persist? What is it about fear — of difference, of not belonging — that leads us to construct hierarchies instead of communities?

As Maya Angelou reminds us, “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

Watch this short video from National Day of Racial Healing: Can we end racism? Two African Americans weigh in and share how they are healing.

  

 

(Click on the images above to see examples of their artistic gifts to us)