#musicsermon

[naturallyalise]

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Day 30: A song that changed your life - "Someday We'll All Be Free" - Donny Hathaway "Nevermind your fears. Brighter days will soon be here. Take it from me someday we'll all be free." I have the chorus of this song tattooed on my forearm with good reason. When sitting in a psychiatric ward after trying to take my own life, I had a conversation about music with an older black man that worked in the facility. He asked some of my favorite artists. His ears perked up when I told him Donny Hathaway was one of my absolute faves. He asked what song and I gave the pretty usual, predictable answer of "A Song For You." He then told me when I got out of the psych ward to listen again to "Someday We'll All Be Free" and promised I would view the song quite differently afterward. He was right. This song has become my rallying cry and I look at my arm daily to remind me that one day, indeed, I will be free. Ain't music a trip? #30DayMusicChallenge #musicsermon @musicsermon #vinyl #vinylsisterhood #durhamvinyl

[kcyars99]

let’s just say she was not talking about an actual bell she wanted someone to ring

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musicsermon

Raise your hand if, as you’ve gotten older and heard songs with more mature ears, you’ve been like “Now why them people let me listen to this when I was a mere child???” 🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️🙋🏾‍♀️ I won’t front I had to go have a conversation with the adults in my life about a couple of joints. (AND THEY WONDER WHY WE WAS FAST).  For Day 2 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share a song you ain’t have no business knowing as a young’un. . .

[trascapades]

🎼 #ArtIsAWeapon

HAPPY #BlackMusicMonth

🖼✍️🏾reposted from @naimagram @musicsermon We back! 

And I know I’m mad late for Day 1…again. 

The Roots picnic gotta stop happening around the 1st of June! (But my bad).  

I now declare the 2026 Black Music Month Challenge ON AND POPPING. 🪩

Y'all know the drill: I post each prompt here with the graphic daily around noon (!)

Use the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge hashtag and tag @musicsermon in your response, jump in the post replies, engage, have fun!!  For those of y'all multi platform folks, the challenge is also on Threads (@musicsermon) and back on X (@naima). I’m going to get on IG live tomorrow so we can have a little family refresher about how the challenge runs. Amen? 

Note: All the prompts you see with an “*” this year were submitted by members of the #MusicSermon community - y’all had some good ones! I’ll tag you in your prompt when I post it. 

I saw @baldsheagle’s prompt and knew it was the best place to start! (Thanks Alicia!)

For Day 1, share a song you would play for someone to introduce them to Black music.

My response: "On And On" by Gladys Knight and the Pips!

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❤️🖤💚#ArtIsAWeapon

This 1897 #HouseMusic classic "Someday," sung by CeCe Rogers, lyrics by Marshall Jefferson.

#HappyJuneteenth

🖼Image and ✍️🏾caption reposted from @naimagram @musicsermon Not gonna front, it feels odd to celebrate Juneteenth as a national holiday when our freedom feels more tenuous than it has in my lifetime. But, freedom ain’t never been free, so we press on.

For Black folks, music has always been part of our fight for liberation. It’s how we passed messages, how we shared stories, how we recorded history, it was a tool of organization, and a source of joy and strength.

Fun fact: the Negro National Anthem (Lift Ev’ry Voice) was adopted *before* the US made the Star Spangled Banner the official national anthem, so even then we led with music.

For Day 19 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share YOUR Black national anthem.

#BlackMusicMonth #BlackAnthems

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🖤🎶 #ArtIsAWeapon

It's that time again @musicsermon's #BlackMusicMonthChallenge 2025... Let's go!

🖼✍️🏾reposted from @musicsermon Whew... delayed but not denied!!

Thank y'all for you patience... now let's get the 2025 #BlackMusicMonthChallenge started!

Y'all know the drill: I post each day's prompt with graphic daily.

Post your answers using the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge hashtag and tag me in your post! (Or just reply).

Engage with folks! Have fun! Don't overthink it, but don't post random ish either - it can be fine line, I know.

When you can't make a decision, post multiple songs!!

We're starting this year with an appropriate seasonal theme.

For Day 1 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share your cookout anthem(s).

🎶My answer: "Love Is The Message" by MFSB!" 🎶

________________

Some songs hit your spirit on such a real way that they feel like gospel - even if it's hood gospel. Or they just give you the message and energy you need to make it through, to keep pushing, to remind ppl wtf you are.

For Day 2 of the #BlackMusicMonthChallenge, share the song(s) that are basically negro spirituals for you.

🎶My answer: "Keep On" by D-Train

[cyarskaren52]

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musicsermon

I know, I know... I owe y'all an apology. So what had happened was, I had a very specific vision for this year's #BlackMusicMonth and #BlackMusicSummer (I'm going to do a little video later to tell you more about the whole process). I wanted to do more with the visuals AND with activities and engagement (more on that coming). And I knew it was alot. I never thought I'd miss the actual LAUNCH DATE! But I'll be timely the rest of the month. I'm gonna drop Day 2 later this afternoon; give Day 1 time to breathe. I also started us in with an easy going, mellow start 😬. (Also EDIT, days 13 and 19 are switched. I'll post corrected version later) Right now, I need to go to sleep so I don't pass out in the middle of Babyface's set at the Roots Picnic. In the meantime... see how many ppl you can spot in the #MusicSermon Summer Compound! ☀️🕶️🎧 XOXO, Nai

[cyarsk52-20]

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” Gil Scott-Heron

“Fight The Power,” Public Enemy

“Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud),” James Brown

“Killing In the Name,” Rage Against The Machine

“Get Up, Stand Up,” Bob Marley

[cyarskj52]

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” Gil Scott-Heron

“Fight The Power,” Public Enemy

“Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud),” James Brown

“Killing In the Name ” Rage Against The Machine

“Get Up, Stand Up,” Bob Marley