From Negro spirituals to rhythm & blues, rock ‘n roll, and hip-hop, Black music has been an instrument of expression, community, and resistance — as well as a documentarian of history. In over 400 years, Black music has continued to evolve and expand into the styles and genres we’ve familiarized today such as R&B, neo-soul, and pop; and despite their frequent disconnection from their historically Black origins, there’s no doubt that African American artists pioneered these forms of music.

Dance also holds profound importance in the Black community. As a vital tool for cultural preservation, identity affirmation, social cohesion, and healing, with roots stretching back to its role in pre-slavery African societies and evolving through periods of oppression and resistance in the diaspora. It serves as a powerful means of storytelling, expression, and communication, reflecting history, traditions, and values, and providing a sense of freedom and liberation.