Clear Path of Knowledge: The Black Music History Library
(3 min read)
From Punk to Classical, every conceivable facet of music often has unspoken and uncredited Black origins, history steeped in racism, and a hidden cultural impact. The Black Music History Library is a new hub of that knowledge ready to be shared, curated by Jenzia Burgos, a Puerto Rican-Dominican writer and music journalist from the South Bronx, New York.
All entries and materials selected for the Black Music History Library are manually vetted by Burgos through a process that asks the following questions:
Who is the author or participant in this material?
What is the perspective this source offers?
Is it an inclusive, accurate addition to Black music history?
Regarding the selection process, the website states: “This library attempts to highlight Black authors and participants as much as possible when selecting materials, as it’s essential to prioritize accounts from those who have primary insight into the subject at hand.”
The home page of the Black Music History Library is simple and easy to navigate, showing rows of folder icons labeled with different genres and source lists. Select any of these folders and you’ll instantly find a treasure trove of relevant and clear sources of information. Books, articles, movies, podcasts by Black authors are highlighted (and highly recommended) by the site.
Take “Folk & Country” as an example. Click the link and find a wide range of dates and topics within the genre. The list includes entries from the Library of Congress, and the recent lawsuit between the band formerly known as Lady Antebellum and the Black artist Lady A, whose name has recently been the subject of legal contention. There are more than a few commentaries on “Old Town Road,” and explorations of the African origins of what we now call traditional bluegrass instruments like the banjo.
The same staggering depth of knowledge is available in all of the included genres. There are a lot of folders and a lot to learn, for good reason. Bookmark this page and start learning more about Black music history and the current struggles that occur in the world of music for Black artists.
Find curator Jenzia Burgos at her Twitter and Instagram and learn more at her website.
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