Breaking Down Barriers: Black Women Paving the Way in Music
History has seen the continued marginalization and discrimination against minority groups for centuries, and with it the ongoing systemic problems our society faces when it comes to addressing these issues. It’s important to recognize that one of the most marginalized of these minority groups is Black women. Facing both misogyny and racism, especially here in the US, we must recognize the problems that Black women have been and are battling against today. In spite of the challenges Black women in particular have to undergo, they continue to show their resiliency and importance to the world. Looking at music in particular, it’s crucial to understand and give credit to Black women who not only changed the game for other Black artists, but also for all women in the music scene. They are constantly showing up and showing out, and when Black women win, we all win. I’m going to highlight three Black women artists who were pioneers in creating lasting change in music.
Let’s first bring it all the way back to 1958, to the very first Grammy Awards ceremony. In the categories for Best Individual Jazz Performance and Best Female Vocal Performance, the woman known as the, “First Lady of Song” took home both awards. That woman was Ella Fitzgerald, the first African-American woman to win at the Grammys. She would go on to win 13 Grammys in total and sell over 40 million records in her lifetime. Having lived on the streets after her mother’s death, Fitzgerald’s entering of an amateur contest at Harlem’s Apollo theater became the catalyst for her career and showcased not only her amazing talents, but her resiliency to a harsh world. NPR’s Ann Powers lists Fitzgerald as a “Founding Mother” of American popular music today, for Fitzgerald’s contributions as a jazz artist pushing boundaries both socially and musically allowed the genre to grow and shift into the future.
Within the same timeframe, another Black artist who not only was one of the most talented vocalists music has seen, but also a groundbreaking person in her achievements, Billie Holiday came onto the scene in the early 30’s. Her rendition of “Strange Fruit” was embraced by civil rights activists everywhere, and is one of the most popular protest songs in history. It’s important, however, to recognize that as we received this beautiful and haunting ballad, Billie had to pay for it. The song, which can already invoke feelings of trauma in the Black community, was tough for her to sing, as her father’s untimely death was a result of racist medical practices. She had mentioned in her autobiography that whenever she sang the song she thought of him, and while difficult, she felt it was important to keep singing it because the same things that happened to her father were still happening in the present day. We have to remember that when Black women give us their best, it’s crucial that we don’t turn our heads and only take the good. Billie was also included in NPR’s list of “Founding Mothers” of American popular music, and for good reason.
Finally, another groundbreaking Black artist who paved the way for women and people of color everywhere - Nina Simone. She left behind a legacy of not just musical gems, but of liberation. Extremely smart and ever determined, Nina Simone was destined to make a name for herself. Since she broke onto the scene in the sixties, she had never shied away from using her voice to fight for civil rights. She wrote “Mississippi Goddam” during what was known as the Freedom Summer, and performed the song in March of 1965, as protestors were making their way from Selma to Montgomery. Nina Simone was unapologetic in her work when it came to writing about what it was like to be Black in America. Her passion and fierceness opened doors for Black artists to continue the fight for equality. Her irresistible spirit and authenticity also made room for Black joy, showing the importance of allowing Black artists to express themselves freely.
These three amazing women are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of all of the Black women artists who broke down walls in the music industry and created spaces that were crucial in the evolution of music. Black women continue doing the work of creating equitable spaces in places such as the music industry, and it is all of our responsibility to show up for them whenever we can, to support them, and to take away any of the burden that we can. Women like Ella, Bille, and Nina have shown us all how important it is to show up for Black women, and the beauty that comes as a result of lifting them up.
Author: Carly Eaton