Music is a word that is so simple and yet, so strong. It has so many different meanings.
According to Merriam-Websters dictionary music is: 1a: the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity b : vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody, or harmony 2a : an agreeable sound : euphony b: musical quality 3a: musical accompaniment.
But for many of us, music is much more than that. It is our comfort when we are sad, our expression of happiness and more. However, a recent conversation among a few friends opened my eyes as to what people think when they define music. Most people define music by its genre: rap, hip hop, rock, etc. But many people in today’s society define music based on race. We all know someone, or we do it ourselves, that thinks that certain types of music are for whites or blacks.
News flash!
Music truly cannot be defined by race simply because all races dabble in other genres. There are white rappers such as Eminem and even Vanilla Ice (if you go way, way back in time when “Ice Ice Baby” was a hit.) There are Black Country singers; you all remember that guy from Hootie and the Blowfish, right? The lead singer…what was his name… Darius Rucker?
Yeah, him. He’s a country singer now. The point is music cannot simply be defined by race alone. There are plenty R&B singers that are Black, White, Hispanic or Asian and yet some people considered R&B to be strictly geared towards blacks. But that is not, nor has it ever been the point of music.
Music is for everyone to enjoy, no matter what color or creed you are.
So what if I’m a black girl driving down the street bumping Linkin Park or Taylor Swift (although you won’t hear Taylor Swift coming from my car… I’m not a fan). It shouldn’t matter. What should matter is that I love good music just as much as the next person?
So when you and your friends are hanging out listening to music and someone says, “Hey man, that’s white people music,” look them in the eye and say, “Race does not define music, bruh, but I still see you bobbing your head to the beat though.”