Celebrate Black History Month 2025 with The Current

February 26, 2025

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Black History Month 2025 - Hip-Hop (pictured: DJ Kool Herc, considered to be the father of hip-hop)Photo: Steven Ferdman/Getty Images | Graphic: Natalia Toledo

Many Black artists and musicians have shaped the current state of popular music. In honor of Black History Month, The Current explores a different chapter in the history of music by Black artists. These important moments from yesteryear broke creative and systemic barriers to create the music community of today.

Each week in February, The Current focuses on foundational artists behind different genres.

Wednesday, Feb. 5 The Roots of Black Music: The Blues - 8:30 a.m. and during the 9:30 Coffee Break

Black History Month: The Blues

Wednesday, Feb. 12 Rhythm, R&B, and early Rock n’ Roll - 8:30 a.m. and during the 9:30 Coffee Break

Black History Month: R&B

Wednesday, Feb. 19 Music and the Civil Rights Movement - 8:30 a.m. and during the 9:30 Coffee Break

Black History Month: Civil Rights, Funk and Soul

Wednesday, Feb. 26 The Birth of Hip Hop - 8:30 a.m. and during the 9:30 Coffee Break

Black History Month: The Birth of Hip-Hop

Black History Month Reading and Listening

• 'We continue to rise': artists discuss the intersection of Black history and music - 15 artists talk about the influence and intersection of Black history, music, and culture.

• A timeline of history-making Black music - Trace a timeline of historic black musical events, with extended riffs on selected items.

American opera singer Marian Anderson (1897 - 1993), the first Black singer to perform at the New York Metropolitan Opera House, on her arrival in London on November 16, 1936, for a concert at the Queen's Hall.
General Photographic Agency/Getty Images

• MLK Remembered - Honor and remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life, work and legacy through music with four hours of special programming

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., waves to the audience in Washington D.C. — Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., (1929 - 1968) addresses crowds during the March On Washington at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, where he gave his 'I Have A Dream' speech, August 28, 1963.
Agence France Presse/Getty Images

• Minnesotan Oscar Pettiford changed American music - Jazz pioneer Oscar Pettiford got his start on the stages of the Twin Cities, helping create a ‘Minneapolis sound’ long before Prince. His innovations made him one of the most influential bass players of the bebop era. A century after his birth, that legacy endures.

A man plays a bass — Oscar Pettiford plays bass at the Aquarium in New York, in about November 1946.
William P. Gottlieb Collection (Library of Congress)

• Soul and inspiration: Black artists salute their musical heroes - 12 artists talk about the musicians who inspired them and helped shape their sound and vision.

• Say it Loud: Anthems of Black Pride and Empowerment - Tales from 13 artists about the creation of their inspirational social and political anthems of black pride and empowerment.

• Yola and Gary Clark Jr. discuss roles in new ‘Elvis’ film - Baz Luhrmann’s film on Elvis Presley also sheds light on Black artists who often weren’t credited for influencing the early rock ‘n’ roll star.

A man in a t-shirt and ballcap sits at a counter, talking — Gary Clark Jr. talks about his role as "Big Boy" Crudup in the film "Elvis," directed by Baz Luhrmann.
courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

• 'So many stories to tell': Minneapolis Sound luminaries trace their roots to historic Fergus Falls black community - Digging deeper into André Cymone's own history reveals that the connection between the Minneapolis Sound and Fergus Falls is further tied to an epic struggle for freedom at the heart of American history.

• Black History Month Playlist: St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter and the music that inspires him - "As a kid we'd joke, they gave us the shortest month of the year," said St. Paul mayor Melvin Carter with a smile. He continued, "our history gets winnowed down into one storyline that doesn't reflect all of us, so we need months like this." Carter said he's inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, and Nelson Mandela.

person talking on the radio — Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter stopped by Minnesota Public Radio to celebrate The Current's 20th Anniversary on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.
John Kueppers | MPR

• Black History Month Playlist: Ilhan Omar talks Prince, and the music that inspires her - As we continue to see her voice emerge, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar shows strength, resilience and confidence in her current role. In 2019, Omar made history as the first Somali woman sworn into Congress. Reflecting on history, culture and music, Omar shared a playlist of songs and spoke of the personal connection she feels with her favorite music.

• Black History Month Playlist: Andrea Jenkins and the music that inspires her - A trailblazer in Minneapolis, City Council member Andrea Jenkins broke barriers in 2018 when she became the first black openly transgender woman elected to public office. Jenkins passionately talks about Black History Month as "a time to reflect and be proud, but it's also a time to recognize that there's still a lot of work and history yet to be made."

A woman smiles as she stands at a mic — Minneapolis City Council President Andrea Jenkins, Ward 8, speaking at the Creekside Supper Club in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023.
Ben Hovland | MPR News

• Black History Month Playlist: Mychael Wright and the music that inspires him - A well-known St. Paul community activist, Mychael Wright has made his mark by not only creating tasty cuisine at his shop Golden Thyme Coffee, but by curating the ongoing Selby Avenue Jazz Festival every September. "At 60 years, I have an appreciation for neo-soul," said Wright. "Very inspiring to hear our young beautiful people singing, rhyming, rapping with intellect, and deep-felt meaning and understanding. Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, Sade, Goapele to name a few."

• Black History Month Playlist: Raeisha Williams and the music that inspires her - Raeisha Williams and her mother Rosemary Nelvin-Williams worked hard to open the doors of their African-inspired Heritage Tea House off University Avenue in St. Paul. Williams wanted a concept that drew from her African ancestry as well as her experiences within the African-American community. Both Raeisha and Rosemary aspire to engage the community and provide the comforts of social gathering within a cultural concept.

Andre Cymone at Paisley Park on April 21, 2017 — Prince's longtime friend and musical collaborator Andre Cymone at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, Minn., on April 21, 2017.
Nate Ryan | MPR

• Interview: André Cymone on the life and legacy of his mother, the Minneapolis Sound, and more

• In the mid-1960s, this club in the Foshay Tower in Minneapolis brought Black performers to downtown audiences. Find out about the space’s history in this 2017 story.

• Dave Brady and the Stars — a group with both Black and white musicians — were leaders of a new soul music sound in Minneapolis.

• The first rock ‘n’ roll record to come out of Minnesota features a legend of local Black music history, Jimmie “Cornbread” Harris. Read more about Harris’ time awith the Augie Garcia Quintet, who released “Hi Yo Silver” in 1955.

• You can learn more about Cornbread Harris here and here, and by reading the chapter about Cornbread’s contributions to the Augie Garcia Quintet in the book Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris by Andrea Swensson, out on University of Minnesota Press.

• In the 1960s, the funk and soul music coming out of North Minneapolis and Rondo found a home on KUXL AM 1570. In between songs, Jack “Old Daddy Soul” Harris became a celebrated host. Read more details about the station and its local impact.

• Learn even more by reading the chapter about KUXL in Got to Be Something Here: The Rise of the Minneapolis Sound by Andrea Swensson, published by the University of Minnesota Press.