The Soundtrack to Embracing my Identity
Music has been a powerful force in my life for the past decade, encouraging me to slowly grow my side hustle of making my own and become a songwriter and music producer. I see music as a soundtrack to your current situation and a way to gain insight into others.
So when the Black Lives Matter Movement broke further into the public eye, it was music that helped me finally open my eyes to what was going on around me. As a black woman, personally, it gave me insight into so many stories that I didn’t know I could ever relate to so much. This inspired me to finally embrace and broaden who I am musically and individually. I have reflected on and compiled a short playlist of songs by black pioneers that have allowed and empowered me to do so.
Don’t Touch My Hair - Solange
A sweet-toned and soulful tune with a strong message, allowing black women to celebrate their magic. Black hair was once a sore subject for me, an insecurity. However, it was songs like these that allowed me to explore this frustration that I never knew I could relate so heavily to. How our hair is quite often touched without permission and looked down on by so many professional environments, instead being given the recommendation of “neater” alternatives: this is a reality that unfortunately occurs way too often.
Don’t Touch My Hair fights the common stereotype of the “Angry Black Woman” - if we speak our truth, we are seen as aggressive. However, Solange stands firm in setting boundaries - not just with our hair, but with the way we are perceived by society in general. A line that I resonate with the most in this song is “Don't touch my crown, They say the vision I've found. Don't touch what's there when it's the feelings I wear”. This has inspired me so much to set firm boundaries myself - seeing my hair as a “crown”, something that holds amazing history.
Blue Lights - Jorja Smith
Jorja Smith’s debut single “Blue Lights” will forever be one of my favourite songs of hers. It is a classic discussing the issue of police brutality.
Lines such as “What have you done? There’s no need to run. If you’ve done nothing wrong, blue lights should just pass you by” speak massive volumes, describing the relationship between the police and people of colour, most particularly the ones from her hometown of Walsall. She puts us in the shoes of a person of colour: where the police are a sight of danger, instead of an authority figure that they feel safe with. They shouldn’t need to run, especially if they haven’t done anything. But because of stereotypes put in place and the way that they are perceived, their unfortunate first instinct is to run.
Freedom - Beyonce
Freedom is a powerful, motivational dedication to black women, admiring how strong their power and determination are.
Beyonce acts as a voice for unheard black women, through lines such as “Freedom! Freedom! Where are you? 'Cause I need freedom, too! I break chains all by myself. Won't let my freedom rot in hell”. She describes the struggle of how we are almost forced to independently fight for our voice to be heard, because of how pushed aside our needs and experiences are to make room for others.
This is America - Childish Gambino
When the viral This is America was released, it was deemed extremely controversial by popular culture. However, it was so needed to get its message out in the open, giving an insight into the life of a black person in America. It covers so many areas and issues that black people can heavily relate to, within both the song and the music video. A strong key line is “You just a black man in this world. You just a barcode. You just a black man in this world. Drivin' expensive foreigns”, highlighting that no matter how successful they get, they’re still “just a black man” having to deal with oppression and discredit.
The video highlights the way that black culture is consumed by popular music - how it is stolen and whitewashed until its roots are forgotten. However, it pays tribute to its roots by sampling a wide range of popular dance moves derived from hip hop and African moves, including the South African Gwara Gwara dance, for example. It also contrasts popular culture’s perception of the black experience, most particularly how we are just seen as entertainment - “We just want to party, party just for you. We just want the money, money just for you” and its brutal reality. This is something that I
think is so smartly conveyed, as there are violent hidden “easter eggs” within the video (people running from the police, fire breakouts, graphic shootings) that are covered up by happy song and dance - taking a “nothing to see here” approach.
Black Parade - Beyonce
Beyonce released Black Parade as a celebration of blackness, expressing pride towards her heritage. In light of the horrific events of what happened to George Floyd and the shocking stories that came out following it, she shows the beauty in our culture.
Lines such as “I can’t forget my history is her story” pays homage to her ancestors. Slavery, police brutality, and gun violence: these are all things that have happened and is still happening to her relatives and people like her in a very brutal way. Repeating these phrases is a way of saying no matter what occurs and the ugly that is going on in the world, she can never forget where she came from, and how beautiful her culture is and will still show up to represent who she is.
She also leans towards the international mass protests against police brutality and racism that broke out following George Floyd’s death - “being black, maybe that’s the reason why they always mad”. This is a form of education for society, indicating that there is a reason for the aggression of the protests. That reason is that it is built-up anger that has been hidden for so long.
Overall, this playlist serves as a reminder of the power of music: how artists use it to inspire, educate, and unite people from minority backgrounds to speak louder.
Written by Georgia Cunnison, the latest addition to the BRIG team - taking on the role of Content Creator