Here's What I Don't Get...
In the late nineteenth century, a black man, Robert Flemming Jr., invented the guitar in 1896 (although, of course, he is not credited for his invention).
Rock music is derived from the combination of blues, gospel, boogie-woogie, and jazz and western country music.
In the 1950’s, African-American musicians, such as Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and Little Richard, practically became the pioneers in the invention of rock N’ roll and eventually became the biggest influences when it came to their Caucasian followers.
Soul music, also a genre invented by African-Americans in the 1950’s and the early 1960’s, was a prominent foundation in the style of rock music. Some rock n’ roll bands even made covers of soul music hits (‘Twist and Shout,’ by the Beatles, anyone? The song was originally sung by The Isley Brothers in 1962).
Black rockers, such as Jimi Hendrix and Prince, are some of the most respected people in rock n’ roll.
So, tell me why–as a black person who listens to rock music, although I listen to many other genres, too–I am called an “Oreo” or a “white girl” by my own black peers? Because I am listening to this so-called “white music”?
Some of us are so quick to shun a certain thing but know nothing about the history of the thing in which they are shunning.
Once upon a time, some white parents forbid their children to listen to rock and roll because they thought it was “Negro music.” Who would have thought that half a century later, in the 21st century, a black individual who likes rock music has to hide his or her music player when another peer asks to listen to it?
Personally, when someone says rock n’ roll music is “white music,” I die a little inside. Yes, whites, especially English bands, have contributed to the greatness of it…
But, at the end of the day, some of us should be educated about the music that we, ourselves, invented, before they poke fun at a black person who enjoys it.
kianamaiart
turnnoffyourmind
dailybridgerton
ellievsbear
blakekathryn
