20 songs to celebrate Black History Month

In 2019, Beyoncé released The Lion King: The Gift, a soundtrack for Disney's remake of the classic film The Lion King. On the single "Black Parade," Beyoncé reflects on the appreciation she has for her culture while also paying respect to her ancestors who helped pave the way. As she sings on the track, "We got rhythm / We got pride / We birth kings / We birth tribes / Holy river / Holy tongue / Speak the glory / Feel the love." 

Kendrick Lamar teamed up with producer Pharrell Williams on his 2015 hit song "Alright." With the rapper giving his audience some hope as they deal with life's struggles, it was the perfect song for people to believe in better days. It's no wonder the song became a main theme for the Black Lives Matter movement in conjunction with protests. 

Throughout Black history, people have fought and protested to simply have civil rights and equality. In 1973, Bob Marley & The Wailers released "Get Up, Stand Up," which takes the stance on how people should fight for their rights. 

In 1964, soulful singer Sam Cooke released his hit song "A Change Is Gonna Come." Cooke was inspired to write the song after dealing with discrimination at a motel. On the track, Cooke details how Black people have fought for many years, and he knows that change and better days are on the horizon. 

In 1989, hip-hop group Public Enemy released their track "Fight the Power." Originally used in the Spike Lee-directed film Do The Right Thing, the song takes the stance on how sometimes people need to fight the powers that be to get things done. 

In Andra Day's 2015 song "Rise Up," the singer highlights how no matter how hard life gets, people still show signs of strength and hope. As she sings on the hook, "I'll rise up, rise like the day / I'll rise up in spite of the ache / I will rise a thousands times again / And we'll rise up, high like the waves." 

Childish Gambino has a knack for getting his message across through his music and visuals. Which is such the case on his 2018 single "This Is America," in which the rapper details how Black people deal with systemic racism, police brutality, and gun violence. At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, "This Is America" won for Song of the Year and Best Music Video. 

In 1991, soulful ensemble Sounds of Blackness released their hit song "Optimistic." On the track, the group highlights how even though people go through hardships, it's important to be faithful and hopeful that one can overcome whatever life throws at them. As they sing on the hook, "You can win as long as you keep your head to the sky." 

Everyone should have equal rights, but unfortunately, the world is filled with people who rather create unnecessary division and chaos. Michael Jackson alludes to this stance in his 1996 track "The Don't Care About Us." As he sings in the song, "Your proclamation promised me free liberty now / I'm tired of being the victim of shame (Ooh) / They're throwing me in a class with a bad name (Ooh) / I can't believe this is the land from which I came (Ooh)." 

James Brown is all about showing the love and appreciation he has for his blackness on the 1968 track "Say It Loud: I'm Black and I'm Proud." He details the imagery that is put on the Black community, but he believes that one shouldn't let other people define them and fight for what they want. As he says in the first verse, "Some people say we've got a lot of malice / Some say it's a lot of nerve / But I say we won't quit moving until we get what we deserve."

Angie Stone worked with Raphael Saadiq on her 2001 single "Brotha." The song is more of like a love letter and appreciation post for Black men. Stone reflects on how Black men are often stereotyped in this world, and she wants them to know that they are loved. 

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes know that the world will only see change when people come together as a collective on their 1975 track "Wake Up Everybody." As they sing on the second verse, "Wake up all the teachers / Time to teach a new way / Maybe then they'll listen / To whatcha have to say / 'Cause they're the ones who's comin' up / And the world is in their hands / When you teach the children / Teach 'em the very best you can."

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar give the audience a liberation anthem on their 2016 single "Freedom." In the track, the two reflect on how Black people deal with oppression and racism on a daily basis, but encourage listeners to stay empowered. 

Janelle Monae teamed up with Erykah Badu on their empowerment anthem "Q.U.E.E.N." On the track, the two detail the many misconceptions and stereotypes of oppressed people, and the importance of people being themselves unapologetically. 

Do the demands and craziness of the world make you want to scream sometimes? Marvin Gaye had these exact feelings on his 1971 track "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)." On the track, Gaye highlights everything from NASA missions to inflation to Uncle Sam and those dreadful taxes. 

Common and John Legend are ready to imagine a world of true equality, peace, empathy, and kindness on their 2014 track "Glory." As Common says on the first verse, "Justice for all just ain't specific enough / One son died, his spirit is revisitin' us / True and livin' livin' in us, resistance is us / That's why Rosa sat on the bus / That's why we walk through Ferguson with our hands up."

Although Beyoncé and Jay Z have collaborated plenty of times throughout their careers, it wasn't until 2018 that they established their group name as The Carters and released their debut album Everything Is Love. They teamed up with production duo Cool & Dre on the hit track "Black Effect," a song that finds the two highlighting how much they appreciate their Blackness, wealth, and status. 

Pharrell Williams is all about making listeners feel liberated with his 2015 single "Freedom." As he sings on the track, "Man's red flower / It's in every living thing / Mind, use your power / Spirit, use your wings." 

On Yasiin Bey's 1999 track "UMI Says," the rapper reflects on how Black people have gone through hardships for generations and he's simply ready to feel truly free. He also uses the track to reflect on the encouragement his parents would give him when he was feeling down saying, "My Umi said shine your light on the world / Shine your light for the world to see." 

When it comes to hair in the Black community, it's always been a symbol of pride in how the community expresses themselves. However, it's also caused the Black community to be scrutinized for their textures and styles. In 2005, soulful singer India Arie released her hit single "I Am Not My Hair" in which she details her hair journey while also expressing how people shouldn't be judged by their hair, but rather by their soul.