How Philadelphia Became The Birthplace Of Black Music Month

By Janelle Burrell, CBS Philadelphia

June 24, 2021

The Philadelphia region is known for its rich music history. It is also the birthplace of a national music celebration every June, honoring a tradition of music that has impacted the industry around the world.

“It is very important for Black music to get this level of recognition because it is America’s indigenous music,” said Black Music Month Co-founder Dyana Williams. “This is music that was created and born out of the experience of pain, suffering of enslavement, from the field songs, straight up to what is the number one genre right now in the world, which is hip hop music.”

And it’s become such a part of not only Black culture but American culture, too.

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