Motown Book Review
“Afro-American Music, without Apology”:
The Motown Sound and the Politics of Black Culture
Chapter 4 in the book Dancing in the Street: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit by Suzanne E. Smith focuses primarily on Motown’s popularity and “the question of the relationship of the negro artist and his or her art to black struggle”(Smith, 139). Langston Hughes believed that “all forms of black culture, including popular music, confronted these issues (black struggle) in some way during the civil rights years, and Motown music was no exception”(Smith, 139). Throughout the chapter, the author discusses the evolution of Motown during an extremely pivotal time in the country, and the artists associated with this genre. The introduction of …show more content…
The Motown Record Company received a dignity award at the First Annual Dignity Projection and Scholarship Awards Night (Smith, 141). “At the time of the Dignity Awards, Motown had several singles high on the charts including the Temptations’ “My Girl”, Martha and the Vandellas’ “Nowhere to Run”…and the pervasive presence of Motown songs on the radio affirmed one of the main goals of the Afro- American Broadcasting and Recording Company: to promote African American perspectives and culture on the radio, in recordings, and in the mass media”(Smith, 141). The Dignity Awards received strong local support, as well as strong support from the city’s political circles. Milton Henry was an outspoken attorney and activist who used the radio and media to promote the interests of Detroit’s black community. “Motown’s ability to fit the agenda of both the Dignity Awards and Brotherhood Week demonstrated how advocates across the political spectrum appropriated the company and its music as the symbols of black achievement. However, many of the businesses who were honored at the Awards night declined their invitations and awards because they were “afraid” and they “did not like Malcolm X”, who was the guest speaker (Smith, 142). Malcom X faced a lot of controversy and trouble leading up to his speech in Detroit. Before he left, his house was bombed and burned down. He was “jittery and distracted” during his speech, and apologized for his disheveled appearance (Smith, 143). Malcolm X was assassinated only a week after his appearance in
The Motown Sound and the Politics of Black Culture
Chapter 4 in the book Dancing in the Street: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit by Suzanne E. Smith focuses primarily on Motown’s popularity and “the question of the relationship of the negro artist and his or her art to black struggle”(Smith, 139). Langston Hughes believed that “all forms of black culture, including popular music, confronted these issues (black struggle) in some way during the civil rights years, and Motown music was no exception”(Smith, 139). Throughout the chapter, the author discusses the evolution of Motown during an extremely pivotal time in the country, and the artists associated with this genre. The introduction of …show more content…
The Motown Record Company received a dignity award at the First Annual Dignity Projection and Scholarship Awards Night (Smith, 141). “At the time of the Dignity Awards, Motown had several singles high on the charts including the Temptations’ “My Girl”, Martha and the Vandellas’ “Nowhere to Run”…and the pervasive presence of Motown songs on the radio affirmed one of the main goals of the Afro- American Broadcasting and Recording Company: to promote African American perspectives and culture on the radio, in recordings, and in the mass media”(Smith, 141). The Dignity Awards received strong local support, as well as strong support from the city’s political circles. Milton Henry was an outspoken attorney and activist who used the radio and media to promote the interests of Detroit’s black community. “Motown’s ability to fit the agenda of both the Dignity Awards and Brotherhood Week demonstrated how advocates across the political spectrum appropriated the company and its music as the symbols of black achievement. However, many of the businesses who were honored at the Awards night declined their invitations and awards because they were “afraid” and they “did not like Malcolm X”, who was the guest speaker (Smith, 142). Malcom X faced a lot of controversy and trouble leading up to his speech in Detroit. Before he left, his house was bombed and burned down. He was “jittery and distracted” during his speech, and apologized for his disheveled appearance (Smith, 143). Malcolm X was assassinated only a week after his appearance in