Continuing ICON’s mission to fight for equal justice for the Black community and honor the contributions of Black culture to the world of music, we put together this resource guide with a variety of info in service to that goal.
ICON’s Official Statement
We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters within the Black community grieving and upset about the perpetual racism and brutality prevalent within the American “justice” system.
Sadly, the death of George Floyd is another example of the endless oppression that
African Americans have endured in this country since its inception.
Your voice matters now more than ever. Icon Collective has donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and we encourage you to do the same. The LDF is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice through litigation, advocacy, and public education.
As a collective of artists, we have a responsibility to speak up for those not heard. We believe artists have the greatest power to shape cultural dialogs and narratives.
We call upon all the musicians of this country to use their platform to speak up and galvanize the population to participate in actual change. Let us not forget we are in an election year. We hope to harness this frustration and channel it into momentum that manifests racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.
Black Lives Matter Resources
Below you will find educational resources along with multiple ways to get involved.
Together, we can build a new world where people are judged not by the color of their skin but by the contents of their character.
Get Involved
Black Lives Matter “Ways to Help”
Justice for Breonna Taylor (Petition)
Watch
13th (Netflix)
Let’s Get to the Root of Racial Injustice (TED TALK)
What if White People Led the Charge to End Racism? (TED TALK)
Daryl Davis Converts Over 200 KKK Members Through Music and Conversation
Music and Black Culture
Why Is Everyone Always Stealing Black Music?
An exploration of white people’s appropriation of historically black music that continues to this day.
How Rock and Roll Became White
Learn how the Rolling Stones’ rise to prominence defines the separation of rock and roll from black culture.
How Bessie Smith Influenced a Century of Popular Music
Historic blues singer Bessie Smith’s indelible effect on all genres of popular music.
Detroit is Techno City, and Techno is Black
A piece detailing techno’s history and its roots in black culture.
2010-19: Reflections of a Black Woman in Dance Music
Ash Lauryn, Detroit based DJ, Writer, and Radio Host, shares her experience being a black woman in dance music.
Gay Black Men Helped Create EDM. Why Do Straight White Men Dominate It?
How EDM went from a mostly black, LGBT artform to a mainstream white artform.
Social Commentaries and Activism
The Combahee River Collective Statement
Statement from the Combahee River Collective detailing their fight for black feminist rights back in the 1970s.
A commentary on the concept of intersectionality from the term’s inventor, Kimberlé Crenshaw.
Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups
A guide for white people to organize and fight institutionalized racism.
Answering White People’s Most Commonly Asked Questions about the Black Lives Matter Movement
An FAQ guide for people who want to get involved in the fight for Black Lives Matter.
White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
An explanation of white privilege and its role in modern society.
An Open Letter to the Music Industry
An open letter to the music industry penned by renowned record producer Keith Harris.
A commentary on racial stereotypes portrayed in mainstream media and how those portrayals affect society.
Institutional Racism is More Harmful Than Individual Racism
A piece detailing the ubiquity of institutionalized racism and its exceedingly detrimental effects on society.
My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant
A depiction of what life is like for undocumented immigrants living in the United States.