Listen, Rock, Resist: Music in Memphis and the Movement 

After attending a portion of Listen, Rock, Resist, I was able to walk away pondering new ideas of what discrimination looked like. I have taken courses in which the importance of music was prevalent, but never have I connected music with race. For the first time, I was able to see the lasting impact that Memphis music history has had on the modern Memphis society. After seeing Mobley in action, I can only help but reminisce on the opening words of the artist. He spoke about how rock and roll was something that was originally a part of the African American community, but over time is became a characteristic of the white community. After the transition, the black community has been associated more with R&B and Hip Hop and Rap. Specifically, the American South has been a haven for the discourse of race in music, and now we are living in an emancipated day of black creativity. Due to the levies of music that we have today, artists can go directly to the fans with the art that they want to see.

Traditionally, the music industry believed that the black sound was only desired by the black population, but they were very wrong. The black sound has been stolen, altered, and formulated for the entertainment of the white population. This has happened for centuries and continues to happen even in modern society. It is artist like Mobley who use music as a form of liberation. This form of expressions offers a view into the lives of different people. When we listen to any form of black music it acts as an expression of black lives. Organizations such as the black rock coalition allow an avenue for those artist who are not mainstream (black) noticed and heard. Again, music offers a look into the experiences and emotions of diverse backgrounds. “Black music” can neither be right or wrong, black music is what comes from all black lives. Music can be used as an avenue for the black lives matters movement, and in fact it has been. Artists like Mobley set the stage for artists to be heard and make a positive impact on their fan base. Even larger artists like Beyonce, Lebron James, Kanye, have come out and used their platform of music to speak about issues within society. Black lives matter has been a topic in all aspects of life, especially the election. Again, more famous artists using their stardom to send a message of empowerment. All in all, music is a way in which diverse groups can show expression, and it is a huge part of the Memphis struggle with discrimination.