Rep. Meeks, Senators Booker and Harris Introduce Resolution Honoring Contributions of African Americans to America’s Musical Heritage
Washington, DC - Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (NJ) and Kamala Harris (CA) introduced a resolution designating June as African American Music Appreciation Month, to recognize the contributions of African Americans to America's music heritage and to raise awareness of the need for greater access to music education for African American students.
"As radio and music industry professional Dyana Williams once said, ‘Black music is American music.' Yet, despite this, African-American music education in largely absent or lacking in classrooms across the nation," said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks.
According to the National Assessment for Educational Progress Arts Assessment, African Americans students scored lowest of all ethnicities. Another study found that only 15% of all students in music ensembles and only 7% of all licensed music teachers are black. A recent Department of Education study found that only 28% of African-American students receive any kind of arts education.
"Music is more than entertainment, it's a connection to a heritage and a culture. For African Americans, that heritage has endured through oppression to produce and influence the most innovative genres in music history. For students to become more engaged in their music education, it is important for them to see their own culture reflected in their curriculum. This Resolution urges a renewed effort to educate all students about cultural heritage in music," continued Meeks.
An excerpt of the resolution follows:
"The House of Representatives recognizes the contributions of African Americans to the musical heritage of the United States; the wide array of talented and popular African-American musical artists, composers, song- writers, and musicians who are underrecognized for contributions to music; the achievements, talent, and hard work of African-American pioneer artists, and the obstacles that those artists overcame to gain recognition; the need for African-American students to have greater access to and participation in music education in schools across the United States; and Black History Month and African-American Music Appreciation Month as an important time to celebrate the impact of the African- American musical heritage on the musical heritage of the United States; and to encourage greater access to music education so that the next generation may continue to greatly contribute to the musical heritage of the United States,"
The House Resolution has 29 cosponsors, and is supported by 35 organizations advocating for increased access to music education in our nation's schools:
American Orff-Schulwerk Association
American School Band Directors Association
American String Teachers Association
Barbershop Harmony Society
Chorus America
College Band Directors National Association
Conn-Selmer
Drum Corps International
Education Through Music
El Sistema USA
Gordon Institute for Music Learning
Jazz at Lincoln Center
J. W. Pepper & Son
League of American Orchestras
Little Kids Rock
Music and the Brain
Music for All
Music Teachers National Association
National Association for Music Education
National Association of Music Merchants
National Federation of State High School Associations
National Music Council
New Jersey Music Educators Association
New York State School Music Association
Organization of American Kodály Educators
Percussive Arts Society
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Progressive Music
Quadrant Arts Education Research
Quaver's Marvelous World of Music
The Recording Academy
Strathmore Hall Foundation
VH1 Save the Music Foundation
Winter Guard International
WURRLYedu