MM&A:2.4.2025
For this installment of MM&A, I’m going to celebrate Black History Month!
Music:
First and foremost, music is important in The Black Community with roots to slavery and singing as an expression of hope and freedom. The 2025 Grammy’s took place Sunday night, and there has been so many wins for The Community! Beyonce extended her record of most Grammy wins as she took home “Best Country Album,” “Best Country Duo/Group Performance” with Miley Cyrus and “Album of the Year” after being snubbed and not invited to the CMA’s at all following the release of “Cowboy Carter”. Kendrick Lamar won 5 different Grammy’s for “Not Like Us,” a diss track (that dropped on my birthday) which is truly a defense for black, American culture with roots in LA. Doechii became the third woman to win “Best Rap Album” with “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” an album that showcases the swamp princess’ versatility, talent and reliance on her own experience. Music is prevalent within the community, and has taken different shape throughout the decades. I’m sure you’ve heard the stereotype that black men can be successful by being an athlete or a rapper. There are ties the African Diaspora has with music which is in tune with our internal metronome and spirituality.
I want to talk specifically about singers in black churches, and how they are the most skilled, naturally talented and dedicated singers on the face of the earth. My Dad has a Baptist background as a musician from Atlanta, and I was always singing in the choir at church and even at school when I could, so those are where my qualifications come from. I am an eye witness. I used to dance too, but that was always so uncomfortable for me. I am a much better singer. I used to love when people would say, “you know you can sing,” cause it’s like, yeah. You’re right. I do know I can sing. When it comes to power, technical ability, range, the ability to hear, production quality, voice shape and texture, I would argue that Gospel singers dominate. Some examples are The Clark-Sheard Family, Mary Mary, Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, etc. Kanye West (who was at the Grammy’s red carpet last night…shocking) even did a Gospel album and featured some incredible singers and figures like Tye Tribbet. Kirk Franklin is one of the most influential Gospel…choir directors (I guess?) of the late ‘90’s and early 2000’s. Gospel singers have a unique timbre and tenacity because the music and act of sacrificing your time is for God. My Dad is a perfectionist who will rehearse a song until he can play it backwards in his sleep because of this notion. The fear of Hell and want of Heaven can certainly do a lot for skill development.
I have a Spotify Playlist called Jesus Music that I listen to when I need to connect to my roots! Christianity and the Black church is where I first found God and a sense of connection to something bigger than me, and I’m so happy to talk about how beautiful black Gospel singers sound.
Movies:
In the spirit of BHM, let’s talk about the roles movies and television play in The Black Community. It’s always been hard for me to stomach slavery movies because they're fucking depressing. They’re either too accurate which bums me out or not accurate at all. I love a good Tarantino flick, but I could never get behind “Django Unchained” because of how unrealistic it is and just trying to comprehend a white man fantasizing about a slave makes me feel like I’m having an outer body experience. I’m never going to watch “12 Years a Slave” or “Harriet” because, although I love Cynthia Erivo, I just don’t have the emotional capacity to watch people who look like me and my family be subject to torture and forced labor for hundred of years. Most black people don’t enjoy watching antebellum films because they’re infuriating. James Baldwin famously wrote , “to be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time”. Films that highlight the journey of black people in America make me feel helpless because there is so much systemic and systematic prejudice and white supremacy at the core of American functionality. The community is still recoiling from the waves formed by slavery in forms of funding, education, resources and access which can make watching these films harrowing.
On a lighter note, I love to see directors like Jordan Peele opening doors for black horror films. Tyler Perry, although controversial for pushing stereotypes, is one of the most influential black playwrights of this day and age.
“The Boondocks” is one of the most prolific satirical TV shows and a personal favorite of mine. There are so many classic movies in the Black Community like “Baby Boy,” “Precious,” “Love and Basketball,” “Juice,” “Boyz in The Hood,” “Friday,” “Do The Right Thing” and so many more that allow us to celebrate our blackness and connect with our culture.
Automobiles:
Sunday February 2, 2025, I attended Caffeine and Octane’s monthly car shot at Cobb Town Center. I go each month to get content, network, see friends and see some cool cars. The feature car was BMW’s M series which was so much fun and my favorite car series ever! But, it’s Black History Month, so let’s talk about cars in The Black Community.
Transportation has been prevalent in the black community because of how it was and is weaponized against black people. Rosa Parks is one of the most significant Civil Rights Leaders because she refused to give up her seat on the front of the bus during a time in which black people endured segregated rail and bus travel. The Montgomery Bus Boycott echoes this. In modern times, “driving while black” refers to the racial profiling and targeting of black people during traffic stops that result in black people being unfairly ticketed, accused of a crime or killed. This becomes heightened when the black person is driving a nicer car. Black people are less likely to own a car and are more likely to pay more for a car than our white counterparts. Here are some stats on that. However, black people are tenacious and have been able to reclaim what transportation means to us.
A lot of the black old heads that I know who are into cars love vintage Cadillac’s and Benz’s. As I mentioned in my last MM&A installment, my Dad got me into the car scene because of his restoration of a ‘73 mustang. I have an appreciation for old cars because of this. I love drop tops, rims, hydraulics, low riders, high riders - all of that. I personally love the new, fast cars. Living in Atlanta, so many people here love an SRT. Kendrick Lamar’s surprise release album was titled “GNX,” referring to the Buick Grand National Experimental in which only 547 were built in 1987. Explore the significance of the title here. I love to see the expression of culture in cars and the impact it has on The Community.
Stay black and stay beautiful!
Thank you for your time,
Arria McGinty
