7/29/2019 Music Appreciation Month Barack Obama

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AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSIC APPRECIATION

MONTH, 2009

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The legacy o Arican-American composers, singers, songwriters, and musicians is anindelible piece o our Nations culture. Generations o Arican Americans have carriedorward the musical traditions o their orebears, blending old styles with innovativerhythms and sounds. They have enriched American music and captured the diversityo our Nation. During Arican-American Music Appreciation Month, we honor this richheritage.

This legacy tells a story o ingenuity and aith. Amidst the injustice o slavery, AricanAmericans lited their voices to the heavens through spirituals. This religious music unitedArican Americans and helped sustain them through one o the darkest periods in ourNations history. Years later, spirituals contributed to the advent o a new orm o music:gospel. Both styles incorporated elements o Arican music and were rooted in aith.

The Arican-American music tradition also reects creativity and individualism. Blues,jazz, soul, and rock and roll synthesize various musical traditions to create altogether newsounds. Their novel chord progressions, improvisation, and mood showcase individual

musicians while also creating a cohesive musical unit. In addition, Arican-Americancomposers have thrived in traditional genres such as musical theater, opera, classicalsymphony, and choral music, providing their unique imprint and creatively growing theseorms o music. All o these contributions are treasured across America and the world.

During Arican-American Music Appreciation Month, we recall the known and unknownmusicians who helped create this musical history. Their contributions help illuminate thehuman experience and spirit, and they help us reect on our Nations ongoing narrative.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President o the United States o America, byvirtue o the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws o the United States, dohereby proclaim June 2009 as Arican-American Music Appreciation Month. I call uponpublic ofcials, educators, and all the people o the United States to observe this monthwith appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and oster appreciation omusic which is composed, arranged, and perormed by Arican Americans.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day o June, in the yearo our Lord two thousand nine, and o the Independence o the United States o Americathe two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA