WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a resolution celebrating the contributions of Black Americans to the musical heritage of the United States and designating June as Black Music Appreciation Month. In addition, the resolution recognizes the lack of access to arts education and training for Black students and calls for greater access to music education. U.S. Representatives Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Gregory Meeks (D-NY-05), and André Carson (D-IN-07) introduced a resolution in the House recognizing June as Black Music Month.

“America’s music history has long been defined by Black music, but Black singers, songwriters, and musicians rarely get the recognition they deserve for their contributions and art,” said Senator Booker. “This resolution honors Black musicians from Aretha Franklin to Kendrick Lamar, along with so many others who have made an invaluable impact on our cultural history. I’m pleased to stand alongside my colleagues to recognize these artists and also recommit ourselves to expanding access to music education for children across the nation.” 

“Black music is the soul of American music, shaping our culture in indelible and immeasurable ways. Black Music sets the rhythm of Black life and has shared our story, our joys, and our struggle with the world. Black Music Month is an important opportunity to support music and arts education, including for diverse communities, and connect Black music to the wider story of Black history, including as we celebrate Juneteenth this month. I am proud to introduce our resolution in the House with Congressman Meeks and Congressman Carson and to join with Senator Booker in announcing our resolutions,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

“To African American communities, music is more than just entertainment, it is a force of identity, healing, and resistance,” said Congressman Meeks. “I am honored to represent a district that has been home to musical legends such as Count Basie and Ella Fitzgerald. African American music is woven into the DNA of this nation—it tells our stories, preserves our struggles, and celebrates our triumphs. We must continue celebrating Black music and its cultural impact worldwide.”

"Black music has always been more than entertainment. It's a pathway for truth, resistance, and cultural pride," said Congressman André Carson. "From the rhythms carried by our ancestors to the beats of hip hop transcending through today's movements, Black music has always told our story when words alone did not suffice. This Black Music Month, we honor the genres we birthed and the voices that continue to inspire justice, joy, and speak truth to power across the world."

The resolution is endorsed by the following organizations: A Cuthbertson Consulting, Cold Narly Generation LLC, Conn Selmer, JazzSLAM, League of American Orchestras, Music Education Consultants, Inc., Music Travel Consultants, National Association for Music Education, National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music, NAMM, National Concerts, Ohio Music Education Association, New Jersey Music Educators Association, Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, TeachRock, WBGO, and NAACP New Jersey State Conference.

“Regardless of our socio-economic backgrounds or geographic location within the US, the impact and contributions of Black music is woven into the fabric of our nation. Our music is not just important because of the uniqueness of the art form, but the nurturing provided by those who first introduced the melodies, rhythms, and phrases to us as young music learners in elementary schools, and with our local communities far and wide. The economic impact to small towns and big cities which embrace the expression of this music in houses of worship and entertainment venues contributes and builds local legacies enabling us to preserve, embrace, and expand these gifts for the next generation of music makers, consumers, and admirers.  By supporting and exploring the contribution of Black Music making, we can provide a richer experience which recognizes and celebrates the vital contributions of all those who create and offer this art to our communities, enhancing everyone's understanding and appreciation for cultural history through the arts,” said NAfME President-Elect Cecil Adderley, Chair of Berklee’s Music Education Department.

“The New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) proudly supports Senator Cory Booker’s resolution recognizing June 2025 as Black Music Month. Black musicians and composers have shaped every facet of America’s musical heritage. We recognize the urgent need for greater access to high-quality, culturally relevant music education for Black students, an issue highlighted in this important resolution. NJMEA remains committed to fostering inclusive music programs and expanding access to high-quality music education so that all students can see their identities, cultures, and experiences reflected in the music they study and perform,” said NJMEA President, David Westawski.

“June is Black Music Month, created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to honor the dynamic artistic narrative that chronicles the aspirations, achievements, innovations, and resilience of generations of Americans past and present, from the deep south field hollers that resonate from six score years ago to the electrifying blues, jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop born in the crucible of today’s largest urban centers, with the voices and rhythms that will carry us into the future. It was in April of 1979 that WBGO signed on the air as Newark Public Radio, a fact that inextricably binds our story to the profound legacy of music created out of the richness of the African American experience. Black Music represents extraordinary value and significance in New Jersey’s artistic and cultural heritage, and it provides the foundation for our representation as the world’s foremost jazz media organization. It is, in fact, the impact that Black artists have had on the world of music that makes WBGO possible. Black music is not just a genre; it is a gift to the world. WBGO is proud to support Senator Cory Booker’s efforts to celebrate this monumental inheritance, not just for one month, but for every day of our existence,” said WBGO President and CEO, Steven A. Williams.

“The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society is in full support of the Black Music Month Resolution by Senator Cory Booker. Preserving the culture of Black Music is very important because every genre of music has been influenced by Black Music. It's more important today than ever before to educate the history of Black Music. The impact of Black Music Culture is not only in America, but all over the world,” said the Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society President and CEO, Perry Thompson.

The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Dick Durbin (D-IL).

To read the full text of the resolution, click here.