Black History Month is a month of observance and respect of the African-American achievements of the years and the tribulations and the triumph they had gone through. It’s a month of the celebrant of the individuals who had contributed to the system and the culture and had left an indelible memory of the future behind them. Following this line of thought further, I met a few individuals and interviewed them and found that they respect the individuals listed below during the month of Black History Month. They span the genre of music and films to social movements and stand-up comedians and showcase the diversified influence of African-American excellence.
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For Adaline Sand, the power of influence of Aretha Franklin cannot be argued with. "I get my influence during Black History Month certainly with Aretha Franklin," she admits. "I love her voice and the beautiful way that she has. I've seen her movie and realized the sacrifices that the Black artist had to bear. She inspires and inspires me also with music." The music of Aretha Franklin not only came to mark an age and also came with a soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement. She and her powerful voice and will power will be influencing future years.
Piper Mangold adores the legend Lauryn Hill. Lauryn Hill! She has such amazing music and such amazing style and it’s truly iconic that she released a solo album. She gave the world a masterpiece of culture with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and set the standard of African-American women of hip-hop and R&B music. She has had such a lasting influence with the singular solo album that she released.
For Emily Denicola, humor and power rest with Kevin Hart. "I get my inspo throughout the month of Black History Month and beyond with Kevin Hart because the guy’s hilarious. What I love about the manner in which the guy turns such sombre occasions into jokes and never fails to put a smile in everybody’s mouths—this is how I seek and try and be," Denicola explained. The guy’s experience turned into laughter encapsulates the resilience that marks the stories of the Black experience. The comedic genius of Hart teaches us that joy is a mode of resistance.
Skye Groves looks at real life experience and influencers. “I am also attracted to my mother and great musicians such as the likes of Tyler, The Creator, J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar because they don’t keep it real with oppression. The songs such as the likes of ‘Good Kid’ (Kendrick Lamar), ‘A Tale of 2 Citiez’ (J. Cole), and the likes of ‘I Killed You’ (Tyler, The Creator) are the reason that I write poetry and tales of the realness/rawness of the Black culture because it’s a subject that’s not touched enough. My mother writes poetry at my age and it’s normally of her own tribulations of a Black woman. She tells me that it reminds her of the things that she used to write and how it’s great that a different voice is talking of experiences such as this.”Here we get the subjectivity of the subject and the activist that it encompasses that illuminates the ways music and tales persist in influencing the language of racism and experiences of racism.
For Jo Gabriel it’s the activist who has caught her attention. “I am specifically drawn to trans and gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson and that she’s a participant in the Stonewall Riots. She wasn’t a fearless and outspoken woman; she also had a wonderful sense of style.”Johnson’s fearlessness during a period of rampant prejudice established the groundwork of the rights of the LGBTQ+, and she ended up a queer and a member of the Black tradition.
Max Gallagher has the visual acuity of a cinematographer like Spike Lee. Gallagher considers the cinematographer Spike Lee who bridged the stigmas of racism and spoke of traditionally uncomfortable issues within mass media with films. Lee’s movies Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X continue to push boundaries and stimulate critical dialogue regarding race, power, and justice.
Beyoncé also signifies power and strength for Nyx Owens. “I am a Beyoncé supporter. She changed the music world with talent and a powerful voice. She has the power of making anything that she needs and wishes done.”Beyoncé’s power goes beyond music—she also signifies Black excellence in creativity, giving, and a will to empower the population of color.
Ranging from legend performers and fearless activist and visionary moviemakers, the influences listed demonstrate the depth and scope of African-American achievements throughout the landscape of culture and the passage of time. Their achievements stand as a constant reminder that African-American History Month is not a month of the past—it’s a month of acknowledging the power of African-American voices in the present and how they keep influencing the future.
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