Celebrating Black Music Month

June is Black Music Month

African-American Music Appreciation Month is an annual celebration of African-American music in the United States. It was initiated as Black Music Month by President Jimmy Carter who, on June 7, 1979, decreed that June would be the month of Black music. Similar presidential proclamations have been made annually since then. In 2000, U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah sponsored House Resolution 509, which formally recognized the importance of Black music on culture and the economy during President Bill Clinton’s administration. And in 2009, President Barack Obama further defined June as African-American Music Appreciation Month.

In his 2016 proclamation, Obama noted that African-American music and musicians have helped the country "to dance, to express our faith through song, to march against injustice, and to defend our country's enduring promise of freedom and opportunity for all.

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Since coming to America as slaves, African Americans have influenced the music world in all different genres. Over the years, several African Americans and music themes have been honored on U.S. stamps.