President Obama Declares June 2016 'African-American Music Appreciation Month'
“African-American music exemplifies the creative spirit at the heart of American identity.”
If one this is for sure, President Obama is going out with a bang. After hosting an International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert at the White House last month, he’s now declared the month of June 2016 “African-American Music Appreciation Month.”
President Obama, a known fan of hip-hop who has advised Kanye West on his political career and hailed Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly as the best album of 2015, is further attesting his admiration for hip-hop and funk music.
In a presidential proclamation issued on May 31st, President Obama remarked, “African-American music exemplifies the creative spirit at the heart of American identity and is among the most innovative and powerful art the world has ever known. It accompanies us in our daily lives, and it has rung out at turning points in our history and demonstrated how our achievements as a culture go hand-in-hand with our progress as a Nation.”
The president also calls upon “public officials, educators, and people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and foster appreciation of music that is composed, arranged, or performed by African Americans.”
The announcement also follows Obama’s recent conversation with musicians Nicki Minaj, Chance the Rapper, and Pusha T to discuss the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative.