Spotify has asked the one and only Janelle Monáe to curate the first installment of their all-new Black History Is Happening Now campaign, which will recognise the creatives, artists, and organisations that are celebrating diversity in music.
https://twitter.com/marleixxe/status/978692553154416645
Who better to take the helm and steer the ship in the right direction than Janelle – who is clearly more than enthused and qualified to take on the job.
“I am thrilled to be teaming up with Spotify to help kick off an important new initiative celebrating black history and culture through Black History is Happening Now. I’ve always been excited and inspired to try to redefine how we’re seen. It’s important to me to celebrate black history year round and with Spotify’s commitment to honouring the black community all year long and showcasing artists and organisations who are dedicated to imparting change.”
I’m working with @Spotify to continue the celebration of Black History. We deserve more than just a month. #BlackHistoryIsNow https://t.co/IjsYDbW8nx pic.twitter.com/Fj7aWBmqkW
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) March 27, 2018
Already, Janelle has curated content for the music-streaming platform including an Afrofuturism documentary she made in collaboration with writer and director, Ytasha L. Womack.
We are ahead of our time! Discover Afrofuturism through my eyes on @Spotify’s Black History hub. #BlackHistoryIsNow https://t.co/IjsYDbW8nx pic.twitter.com/V2s6Gerths
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) March 28, 2018
In light of the the completely justifiable and ongoing upset around Black History Month falling on the shortest month of the year (February is the cruellest month, sorry April), this is the first of many steps we should all be taking when it comes to acknowledging, celebrating, and educating others around diversity within the industry and beyond.
By providing these powerful and influential voices with a strong platform that allows them to be heard across another medium, it opens the door to ongoing education around movements like Black Lives Matter, while also continuing conversations around support, visibility, and recognition of women and men of colour who also belong to the LGBTIQ community.
popping my head back in here just to make sure you all know that Janelle Monáe's spotify afrofuturist playlist is, essentially, the only spotify playlist you will ever need, ever againhttps://t.co/y7lyGATILm
— ? Olive ? (@OliveOilCorp) March 28, 2018
While many people of colour are reminded each day that race and equality still don’t go hand in hand when it comes to anyone that isn’t white – campaigns like the one Spotify has created will hopefully encourage more people to be aware of this exact issue, and foster continued development of African, as well as African-American culture as we move into a future that needs to be about equal rights for everyone.