What does Motown Music have to do with the Civil Rights Movement?

Question

What connection do they have with each other? And what would be a good keyword to search this in the library?

Answer 1

Prior to Motown, black music received no major airtime on American radio, motown was so popular with the white population, that it enable black artist to break through onto mainstream radio and then TV, try key words like 60's radio black music, and motown in google might give you some more ideas and info. This is my Mum's favourite music, so have good memories of her playing this in the house when I was younger.

Answer 2

I think Spellbound is spot on. In a very subtle yet direct way, the popularity of Motown helped break down racial and social divisions.

keyword Barry Gordy + Civil Rights; Stevie Wonder + Civil Rights; The Temptations + Civil Rights; Smokey Robinson + Civil Rights; et al.

Answer 3

I grew up in Detroit, home of Motown and I don't recall a direct connection to the Civil rights movement between them. However, look up; 1967 Detroit Riots, Rosa Parks, Stevie Wonder, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Answer 4

During the Motown era revolutionary/inspirational music was being made , the music was dealing with the sign of the times(Segregation,Jim crowe,Police brutality etc). Try looking up Motown , civil Rights or both together.

Answer 5

Motown was the first (and only) completely minority conceived, run and creatively driven record label. It put the stake in the ground that stopped the wholesale exploitation of black creativity in rock 'n roll for white audiences.

Previously, most wildly successful black tunes (on the 'race music' black stations) were redone (or 'covered') by white artists, which would then sell millions in the mainstream market. No royalties were paid, ither. Motown ended all that--its black artists were promoted to the mainstream audience directly and sold millions of records written, produced, performed and distributed solely by Motown-employed blacks.

Some good keywords:

Black entrepreneurship.

White covers of black R&B tunes.

Motown sound

Detroit sound

Race music and Motown

Answer 6

The Motown Revue traveled down south and integrated segregated venues.

Answer 7

both involve african americans