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BLACK SONGS MATTER #100-91. Continues tomorrow.

A Caffè Lattè tribute…

 

BLACK

SONGS

MATTER

Some remain iconic; some were a call to arms; while others imagined a world where prejudice and injustice ceased to exist. Here are 100 songs by black voices that are the soundtrack to the struggle that continues to this day for equality, respect and dignity. They serve to carry the message that Black Lives Matter.  

100

IT’S WRONG (APARTHEID)

Stevie Wonder

On his ‘In Square Circle’ album, Stevie Wonder is far from subtle condemning the practice of apartheid. He sings in English backed by South African exiles singing in Xhosa.

 

99

WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN (TO A FREE MAN)

Cody ChestnuTT

“What Does Freedom Mean” was included on the motion picture soundtrack for the 2013 period drama ’12 Years A Slave’.

 

98

BLACK GIRL

Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz sings about the beauty of his dark-skinned object of affection on “Black Girl” from the 1993 album ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way’.

 

97

BRENDA’S GOT A BABY

2Pac

2Pac’s debut album ‘2Pacalypse Now’ was released in 1991. The second single lifted off the disc was “Brenda’s Got A Baby”. Its protagonist is a child, dealing with pregnancy and poverty: a common plight for 2Pac’s community.

 

96

DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW ABOUT ME

Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers

A 1968 Motown single dealing with a black male dating a white female.

 

95

THE BOTTLE

Gil Scott-Heron

The poet / singer Gil Scott- Heron’s “The Bottle” tackles the impact of alcohol abuse in the African-American community. It was featured on his 1974 LP ‘Winter In America’.

 

94

BROWN SKIN

India.Arie

Since the 1970s, pop culture has championed the “black is beautiful” message. India.Arie’s 2001 album ‘Acoustic Soul’ extolled the allure of dark skin.

 

93

DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder urges black youths to educate themselves on this deep cut found on his 1971 album ‘Where I’m Coming From’.

 

92

CHILDREN OF THE GHETTO

Philip Bailey

The soaring vocals of Philip Bailey have been a trademark feature in the Earth, Wind and Fire canon. “Children Of The Ghetto” was one of the tracks on the vocalist’s 1984 solo album ‘Chinese Wall’.

 

91

RESPECT YOURSELF

The Staple Singers

This 1971 R&B staple encouraged empowerment for the African-American community.