Music's Influence On Race And Culture

Attorney Thomas A. Stephens and Dr. Rory Donnelly were my parents. A Brooklyn New York woman meets a Detroit Michigan man in Chicago—they fell in love, got married, became doctors in their respective fields, and had three sons: myself (David), Matthew, and Douglas. Our parents were an interracial couple in the 1970s. It was a time where the accepted norm and comfort zone was to date “within your own race”. America was dealing with the outcomes of the tumultuous 1960’s civil rights era and the racial segregation that created it. Ethnic race separation was still the ideology of some Americans. It took courage and resilience to date outside your race. My parents were equipped for the challenges that awaited to test their love and commitment.
They exemplified this civilized outlook on race and
I liked it better that way. One activity that stands out more than most was the playing of records. Having a record collection of Jazz, Soul, Blues, and Rock was impactful on us all. The importance of taking care of the physical record added to its appreciation overall. To see my parents enjoying music with the other showed me the power of music and its impact on love. CD’s weren’t available for a few years, so records and cassette tapes were the primary platforms for audio. Sitting around to be played at our leisure was an experience I appreciated at the time. It was a bonding family experience that gave us opportunities to enjoy and celebrate the moment. Another favorite past-time of my parents was traveling. My siblings and I for the most part enjoyed being dragged throughout the county and abroad. Whether