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THE SCENE IN COLOUR For #BlackHistoryMonth
I want to make a HUUUUGE thread about the very black & brown history of this scene, the way racism still exists in this scene, and new poc bands for you to find. 
Hope this helps!
Side note: feel free to add to this!! Twitter only lets you draft a certain amount of tweets in a thread at one time so I’ll be adding as I go along.
NEW BANDS:
My good friend @hansel_mp3 has made this extensive playlist that is like index of poc bands right now. https://open.spotify.com/user/123378650/playlist/3rRPYJAj6AFo3lE6sr3daU?si=AGUUSzADQ0-qHtJCvxXC4Q
My good friend @hansel_mp3 has made this extensive playlist that is like index of poc bands right now. https://open.spotify.com/user/123378650/playlist/3rRPYJAj6AFo3lE6sr3daU?si=AGUUSzADQ0-qHtJCvxXC4Q
NEW BANDS:
@SwallowBricks also has some amazing playlists, specifically related to women. https://open.spotify.com/user/akumar45/playlist/5k6hHuuTJr9WJBDpkeHh9r?si=goQhb5VpSMmLl8mTpLFVnA
@SwallowBricks also has some amazing playlists, specifically related to women. https://open.spotify.com/user/akumar45/playlist/5k6hHuuTJr9WJBDpkeHh9r?si=goQhb5VpSMmLl8mTpLFVnA
NEW BANDS: I’m currently making a playlist for specifically queer people of colour! It’s still a work in progresss 
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0fIAOzgQN2P7xfgfkx2ouN?si=ynjBHBFBSqWekg6JbKY_DA
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0fIAOzgQN2P7xfgfkx2ouN?si=ynjBHBFBSqWekg6JbKY_DA
NEW BANDS:
Another one, but I’ve also made a “current POC ALT faves” which shows you my current favourite tracks from poc alt artists rn! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5BXOIZdmb1zA8oD3w2yx6W?si=8IziuJnkSqC8KtjgyF3IsA
Another one, but I’ve also made a “current POC ALT faves” which shows you my current favourite tracks from poc alt artists rn! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5BXOIZdmb1zA8oD3w2yx6W?si=8IziuJnkSqC8KtjgyF3IsA
THE HISTORY OF THE SCENE:
Rock and Roll, and all the sub genres that came afterward, are rooted in Black History.
Rock and Roll itself was an extension from Rhythm and Blues, a genre innovated by black musicians at the time, especially in the deep south of America.
Rock and Roll, and all the sub genres that came afterward, are rooted in Black History.
Rock and Roll itself was an extension from Rhythm and Blues, a genre innovated by black musicians at the time, especially in the deep south of America.
Honestly the first and best place to start is just the Wikipedia page for Rock and Roll.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll
It’ll tell you the basic facts, give you an easy refresher.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll
It’ll tell you the basic facts, give you an easy refresher.
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
Know this name, Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Considered the grandmother of rock and roll who is said to have inspired Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley.
She was the blueprint, what she was doing wouldn’t even be known as “rock” until the 50s.
Know this name, Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Considered the grandmother of rock and roll who is said to have inspired Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley.
She was the blueprint, what she was doing wouldn’t even be known as “rock” until the 50s.
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
Articles to read:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/why-sister-rosetta-tharpe-belongs-in-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-123738/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/18/sister-rosetta-tharpe-gospel-singer-100th-birthday-tribute
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ajc.com/entertainment/music/sister-rosetta-tharpe-singer-influenced-key-rock-roll-figures/UTzkpIsRNvvenWoaTGamtM/%3FoutputType%3Damp
Articles to read:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/why-sister-rosetta-tharpe-belongs-in-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-123738/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/18/sister-rosetta-tharpe-gospel-singer-100th-birthday-tribute
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ajc.com/entertainment/music/sister-rosetta-tharpe-singer-influenced-key-rock-roll-figures/UTzkpIsRNvvenWoaTGamtM/%3FoutputType%3Damp
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
SRT would be the earliest rockstar, but after her followed Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and more.
Rock and Roll is a genre innovated by black excellence, it wouldn’t be the same without it.
SRT would be the earliest rockstar, but after her followed Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and more.
Rock and Roll is a genre innovated by black excellence, it wouldn’t be the same without it.
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
Another important name is Ike Turner. Many would regard his track ‘Rocket 88’ as one of the first solidified Rock and Roll songs (as well as Fats Dominos ‘The Fat Man’).1/3
Another important name is Ike Turner. Many would regard his track ‘Rocket 88’ as one of the first solidified Rock and Roll songs (as well as Fats Dominos ‘The Fat Man’).1/3
Although it’s still heavily disputed whether it was rock and roll, I’d argue it was rock and roll (but who asked for my opinion lol).
Here what critics say:
Source: Rocket 88 Wiki.
Here what critics say:
Source: Rocket 88 Wiki.
But Ike Turner even said himself that Rocket 88 is what inspired Sam Phillips to scout Elvis & Jerry Lee Lewis, particularly finding white men who could “sound” like black singers.
Source: Rocket 88 Wiki.
Source: Rocket 88 Wiki.
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
Articles to read:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nme.com/features/trailblazers-influential-artists-black-history-month-sister-rosetta-tharpe-2784458%3Famp
https://www.mic.com/articles/136969/who-invented-rock-n-roll-these-are-the-black-pioneers-who-laid-the-genre-s-foundations
Articles to read:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nme.com/features/trailblazers-influential-artists-black-history-month-sister-rosetta-tharpe-2784458%3Famp
https://www.mic.com/articles/136969/who-invented-rock-n-roll-these-are-the-black-pioneers-who-laid-the-genre-s-foundations
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
You might be wondering “so then why are the only “famous” rockstars white? Why am I only taught about them?”
*cracks knuckles* aight, lemme tell you something.
You might be wondering “so then why are the only “famous” rockstars white? Why am I only taught about them?”
*cracks knuckles* aight, lemme tell you something.
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
During the height of rock and roll the Jim Crow laws were still in effect. Black and brown people couldn’t eat in the same diners, we sat at the back of the bus, we had separate bathrooms, we had no respect of any basic human rights. 1/2
During the height of rock and roll the Jim Crow laws were still in effect. Black and brown people couldn’t eat in the same diners, we sat at the back of the bus, we had separate bathrooms, we had no respect of any basic human rights. 1/2
2/2 I feel like people look at history and think “oh that was 100 years ago!”
Reminder: Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” was 57 years ago. My dad is older than that speech. The racist assholes in those photos ^^ are still alive btw.
Reminder: Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” was 57 years ago. My dad is older than that speech. The racist assholes in those photos ^^ are still alive btw.
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
The foundational core years of rock and roll were built at a time of deep oppressions that were implemented into the scene at the time and have, arguably (Imo), trickled down into micro-aggressions that somewhat exist today in our scene. 1/2
The foundational core years of rock and roll were built at a time of deep oppressions that were implemented into the scene at the time and have, arguably (Imo), trickled down into micro-aggressions that somewhat exist today in our scene. 1/2
2/2 examples of this now are:
calling any black artist “urban” and relegating them to only doing rap music I.e. “omg you’re in a metal band and you’re black? That’s so weird! I thought black people didn’t do that music.”
Some articles that might be of interest:
calling any black artist “urban” and relegating them to only doing rap music I.e. “omg you’re in a metal band and you’re black? That’s so weird! I thought black people didn’t do that music.”
Some articles that might be of interest:
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
Black musicians were not regarded with the same respect & could not thrive.
DJ’s refused to play them on radio, one of the first DJ’s that did was Alan Freed who coined the term Rock & Roll.
https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed
Black musicians were not regarded with the same respect & could not thrive.
DJ’s refused to play them on radio, one of the first DJ’s that did was Alan Freed who coined the term Rock & Roll.
https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed
HISTORY OF THE SCENE: ROCK AND ROLL.
Jack Hamilton for Slate Magazine summarises it perfectly when he says that white rockstars get these lavish careers, museums, book deals etc. And black artists are just relegated to black history books. 1/2 https://www.google.com/amp/s/slate.com/culture/2016/10/race-rock-and-the-rolling-stones-how-the-rock-and-roll-became-white.amp
Jack Hamilton for Slate Magazine summarises it perfectly when he says that white rockstars get these lavish careers, museums, book deals etc. And black artists are just relegated to black history books. 1/2 https://www.google.com/amp/s/slate.com/culture/2016/10/race-rock-and-the-rolling-stones-how-the-rock-and-roll-became-white.amp
Yes, black artists did exist and were given some acclaim. But it’s admittedly never been to the same degree as The Beatles, Elvis Presley etc. Where are the black musicians huge museums, music theory, books upon books beyond just the music critics who know the history.
RACISM IN THE SCENE: Racism denial:
While we’re here, @jack_hamilton article for Slate Magazine is fucking biblical to me. It’s a really good read, seriously.
One bit it mentions is racism denial.
Here’s some snippets I thought were useful.
https://slate.com/culture/2016/10/race-rock-and-the-rolling-stones-how-the-rock-and-roll-became-white.html
While we’re here, @jack_hamilton article for Slate Magazine is fucking biblical to me. It’s a really good read, seriously.
One bit it mentions is racism denial.
Here’s some snippets I thought were useful.
https://slate.com/culture/2016/10/race-rock-and-the-rolling-stones-how-the-rock-and-roll-became-white.html
RACISM IN THE SCENE: Racism Denial.
A recent article by the AMAZINGGG @Rabab_AlSharif for Loudwire was also met with this same denialism.
A lot of “rock isn’t racist
” comments, straight up denialism. https://loudwire.com/racism-exist-rock-discussion-william-duvall-jason-butler-nova-twins/
A recent article by the AMAZINGGG @Rabab_AlSharif for Loudwire was also met with this same denialism.
A lot of “rock isn’t racist
” comments, straight up denialism. https://loudwire.com/racism-exist-rock-discussion-william-duvall-jason-butler-nova-twins/
RACISM IN THE SCENE:
I actually made a whole ass video about this recently! Particularly about how the scene perpetuates this notion of being a “white people thing.” 1/4
I actually made a whole ass video about this recently! Particularly about how the scene perpetuates this notion of being a “white people thing.” 1/4
2/4 In the video I talk about rock and roll’s black history, using Slate Magazine’s article as an example, that the precedent set in the earliest years of the alternative scene’s formation (rock and roll), people of colour have always been secondary
3/4 When we do come into these spaces, from the beginning we’ve been told “even if you do rock, when you do it you won’t be as successful.” Though this mentality is changing as society progresses to an overall less racist environment, those notions implemented +
4/4 in the earliest years have trickled down into the scene and find themselves in microaggressions, small relics of the past that need to be shelved away. We need to change the way we think of rock music and who can do it, what it looks like, and how we convey that in media.
(I have work now but I finish at 3 so I’ll add more to this! Next is PUNK :D)
THE HISTORY OF THE SCENE: PUNK.
Punk is quite possibly one of the most anti-discrimination movements & spaces in the alt scene.
It has whole ass genres like Riot Grrrl & Queer punk that liberate minorities. On the front, it is one of the most inclusive genres. 1/3
Punk is quite possibly one of the most anti-discrimination movements & spaces in the alt scene.
It has whole ass genres like Riot Grrrl & Queer punk that liberate minorities. On the front, it is one of the most inclusive genres. 1/3
2/3 and any real punk will tell you, doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, as long as you aren’t a fascist dick you’re good!
But as Punk makes it’s return among the youth of Tik Tok, it appears that a lot of punk babies only know the Sex Pistols or The Ramones.
But as Punk makes it’s return among the youth of Tik Tok, it appears that a lot of punk babies only know the Sex Pistols or The Ramones.
3/3 whilst those artists were famous for popularising the genre, South Asian punks existed, Latinx punks were HUGE in LA. And black punks were there since day one.
To my punk babies, let’s have a chat about the very brown & black history of punk.
To my punk babies, let’s have a chat about the very brown & black history of punk.
THE HISTORY OF PUNK:
Punk was the angry, feisty, Pokemon evolution of rock. A lot of 60s rock leaned toward something like punk, artists were striving for a grittier and rougher sound in exhaustion with the saturation of rock.
A good video for this:
Punk was the angry, feisty, Pokemon evolution of rock. A lot of 60s rock leaned toward something like punk, artists were striving for a grittier and rougher sound in exhaustion with the saturation of rock.
A good video for this:
THE HISTORY OF PUNK: Death.
That brings us to Detroit’s finest DEATH. An early proto-punk band from 1971 who were doing punk before punk existed.
The band were inspired by the likes of Alice Cooper, The Stooges etc.
Source: Red Bull Academy Daily.
That brings us to Detroit’s finest DEATH. An early proto-punk band from 1971 who were doing punk before punk existed.
The band were inspired by the likes of Alice Cooper, The Stooges etc.
Source: Red Bull Academy Daily.
THE HISTORY OF PUNK: DEATH.
Death existed and thrived, but they wouldn’t find the deserved acclaim until 2008 when they were rediscovered.
A refusal to change their name made them hard to market at the time.
Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2009/feb/09/detroit-band-death
Death existed and thrived, but they wouldn’t find the deserved acclaim until 2008 when they were rediscovered.
A refusal to change their name made them hard to market at the time.
Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2009/feb/09/detroit-band-death
THE HISTORY OF PUNK: PURE HELL, FISHBONE & BAD BRAINS.
It started with Death, but it didn’t end there.
Some other astounding and notable figures in punk are Pure Hell, Bad Brains and Fishbone. 1/2
It started with Death, but it didn’t end there.
Some other astounding and notable figures in punk are Pure Hell, Bad Brains and Fishbone. 1/2
2/2 I could sit here all day and gush about these guys, but I think these articles do them justice over my illiterate ass.
PURE HELL:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/40942/1/pure-hell-first-black-american-punk-band-history%3famp=1
https://www.google.com/amp/s/faroutmagazine.co.uk/pure-hell-first-black-punk-band/amp/
http://www.openculture.com/2019/05/the-story-of-pure-hell-the-first-black-punk-band.html
PURE HELL:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/40942/1/pure-hell-first-black-american-punk-band-history%3famp=1
https://www.google.com/amp/s/faroutmagazine.co.uk/pure-hell-first-black-punk-band/amp/
http://www.openculture.com/2019/05/the-story-of-pure-hell-the-first-black-punk-band.html
BAD BRAINS:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.loudersound.com/amp/features/punk-purity-and-positive-mental-attitude-the-turbulent-tale-of-bad-brains
https://www.google.com/amp/s/faroutmagazine.co.uk/bad-brains-live-cbgb-video-1982/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/timeline.com/amp/p/3659aafcc9cc
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.loudersound.com/amp/features/punk-purity-and-positive-mental-attitude-the-turbulent-tale-of-bad-brains
https://www.google.com/amp/s/faroutmagazine.co.uk/bad-brains-live-cbgb-video-1982/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/timeline.com/amp/p/3659aafcc9cc
FISHBONE:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/aug/23/cult-heroes-fishbone-ska-punk-funksters-of-the-la-underground-scene
https://fishbone.net/ska-punk-rockers-way-ahead-of-the-curve/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/aug/23/cult-heroes-fishbone-ska-punk-funksters-of-the-la-underground-scene
https://fishbone.net/ska-punk-rockers-way-ahead-of-the-curve/
THE HISTORY OF PUNK: POLY STYRENE.
One extremely important figure, in my personal opinion (not that you asked but shhh), is Poly Styrene of the British punk/riot grrrl band X-ray Spex. One of the few black riot grrrls of the time. 1/2
One extremely important figure, in my personal opinion (not that you asked but shhh), is Poly Styrene of the British punk/riot grrrl band X-ray Spex. One of the few black riot grrrls of the time. 1/2
2/2 she exists in my mind rent free everyday 
I love her
https://gal-dem.com/my-mother-poly-styrene-retrospective-punk-icon/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/43847/1/poly-styrene-dayglo-xray-spex-celeste-bell-style-riot-grrrl-punk%3Famp%3D1
I love her https://gal-dem.com/my-mother-poly-styrene-retrospective-punk-icon/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/43847/1/poly-styrene-dayglo-xray-spex-celeste-bell-style-riot-grrrl-punk%3Famp%3D1
