Celebrating Black History Month: African Americans and the Arts

“One thing people would be surprised to know is that they can find most genres of music represented within these walls and over 400+ years of music history represented as well. There is something for everyone to love and to discover here at the National Museum of African American Music.”

“One thing that people might be surprised to learn about our organization is that in our 2023 fiscal year, 54% of the students in our JazzArts Academy were people of color. Since its inception, JazzArts Charlotte has been committed to creating an organizational culture and practices that support and enforce diversity, inclusion, and access. As an African American-led non-profit organization, it is intentional about incorporating practices of racial equity and diversity throughout our governance, operations, and programming. Learn more about JazzArts Charlotte at www.thejazzarts.org.”

“Visitors will be surprised to learn at The Hip Hop Museum, how Hip Hop music has also driven tech innovation in sound recording. From sampling our parent’s vinyl at the culture’s inception in 1973 to the rise of cassettes and mixtapes. And THHM will illustrate how recording technology’s trajectory has been spurred on by Hip Hop music. It’s important to show our visitors how the creation and delivery of Hip Hop music to the world has consistently evolved. Particularly for Black History Month, early recording artists like Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey would marvel at how far the influence of this musical culture born of Black expression and creativity has come.”