Voices of Empowerment: It's Been Said All Along

James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul,” provided movement to the Civil Rights Movement with style. Brown addressed white supremacy while speaking to the necessity of Black Americans to heal and rehabilitate. 

This is one of the many jumpsuits that Brown wore during his electrifying performances. Brown was inducted into the Rock Hall in 1986.

Amplified during the social justice movement, Aretha Franklin’s cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect” took on new fervor and became her first Number One hit in 1967. The meaning for both Redding and Franklin was simple and clear; they were demanding respect. 

The anthem would be adopted as a protest song for the Civil Rights and Women’s Liberation Movements. Franklin wore this dress during her first appearance at Radio City Music Hall. Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock Hall in 1987.

"I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door, I'll Get It Myself)" was written and recorded by James Brown. As the world began to shift socially, so did the music and its messages.

“Black power” rose in the wake of the Civil Rights Movement and performers of the ‘60s were becoming more political, including Brown, who drove the point home with authoritative anthems answering the question of what Black people want. 

Brown answers that question in this lesser-known song: "we want equal opportunity, not guaranteed results.”

Before Rolling Stone (1967) and Right On (1971), Soul Illustrated Magazine defined what a Black music and art magazine could be. Birthed out of the Watts rebellion of 1965, Soul Illustrated was established in 1966 by Regina Jones, the only Black female owner of a magazine at this time. 

For many, this was their first opportunity to have their crafts taken seriously and establish a portfolio of work, covering budding stars like Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, James Brown and many others. This was the first issue published in color by Soul Illustrated.

1986 Inductee Ray Charles is an example of what it means to find your voice and create your own destiny. Overcoming the physical hurdles of blindness, he knew the power of an artist speaking out against injustice. 

Charles was one of the first musicians to openly reject Jim Crow Laws in the south and refused to perform to segregated audiences, in spite of the financial loss, understanding that his statement for justice meant more than a breach of contract. His stance reverberates today.

Maurice White founded Earth, Wind & Fire with his brother Verdine in 1971. The group combined many musical genres -- R&B, soul, funk and pop -- with the signature sound of the kalimba, a traditional African melodic percussion instrument. The supergroup was inducted in 2000.

Earth, Wind & Fire was conscious of their social duty, depicting strong African images in their album artwork and creating uplifting anthems like “Keep Your Head to the Sky” and “Turn It into Something Good” that provided messages of hope and empowerment to the Black community.

The truths told in “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” has proven to be just as powerful as when the song and album were released by poet and GRAMMY-Award winning artist Gil Scott-Heron. 

The continuum of conditions that Blacks and people of color have endured in this country--despite the promises of the past--are not always accurately portrayed if at all. Heron’s style and delivery heavily influenced and inspired the beginnings of hip-hop.

Despite the lack of support from media, the message and classic title of the song has held space in a world of untruth.

American bass player and vocalist William "Bootsy" Collins got his big break touring and recording as a member of James Brown's backing band. In 1972, Collins joined funk-soul collective Parliament- Funkadelic and lent his "space bass" sound to such hits as "Flash Light."

Collins was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic in 1997. He wore this outfit in performance with Bootsy’s Rubber Band.