The Year of the Blues

January 21 - May 21, 2017

In this Year of the Blues we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January), Black history (February), Women’s history (March) and Black music history (June) in particular. However, black culture is worthy of being celebrated throughout the year. Our heritage is rich and vibrant and the influence of black culture is found in every area of our nation’s excellence.

In January we honored the legacy and birth of Dr. King as we lifted our voices with songs and stories of celebration. We also recognized other treasures born in January including but certainly not limited to: Alvin Ailey, Max Roach, John Singleton, Debbie Allen, Michelle Obama, Daniel Hale Williams, Aaron Neville, Etta James, Bobby Blue Bland, Oprah Winfrey and Jackie Robinson.

February is Black History Month. Share the story of its origin with your community, especially our youth.

In 1994 a group named Sounds of Blackness recorded a song written by Gary Hines. The song, “Livin’ The Blues,” begins with the lines: “Everybody wants to sing my blues. Nobody wants to live my blues.” The song continues: “For a long, long time we been livin’ the blues. For a long, long time we been payin’ dues…. We’ve come through the storms and rain, heartaches and pain… We keep holdin’ on – livin’ the blues has made us strong."

Other treasures, born in February, include but are not limited to: Rosa Parks, Alice Walker, Leontyne Price, Frederick Douglass, Toni Morrison, Sidney Poitier, Smokey Robinson, Nina Simone, W.E.B. DuBois, Fats Domino, Roberta Flack and Langston Hughes! Select a poem, song, quote, speech, movie, painting or any other expression that comes to mind when thinking of these treasures and share it with someone else. Knowledge is power!