Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
It’s February in African America, which means it’s Black History Month. That means your entire month is going to be inundated with alternate facts, fake quotes and improperly attributed historical happenings. If you stand still enough you can smell the joy and shenanigans afoot. With that said, one of my favorite pastimes — and not just in February — is locating and then acknowledging significant moments in Black history. Which brings us to today’s discussion.
Ya know, I really do appreciate when people make perhaps difficult things easier for the masses. Changing the channel was a physical activity until the remote control came along, and I would argue we’re all better off. Similarly (though not at all), one of my favorite albums is the debut album from magnificent singers (and former duo) Jean Norris-Baylor and Renée Neufville, better known as Zhané. If you dipped one toe into the ’90s or are even slightly a fan of the best musical decade of all time — again, the 1990s — then you have heard “Hey Mr. DJ,” their first single and a song that is as emblematic of the era as any. If you went to melanated ’90s parties, you would hear this song. It’s a given. It’s noticeable if you don’t. Well, their album, “Pronounced Jah-Nay” is as good of an album as any. It was released on Feb. 15, 1994, making it 30 years old. Egads.
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While I’d happily celebrate the magnificence of this album — it is literally good from start to finish — the most significant thing about this album was that the women understood the assignment and realized that being Black means a lot of things to a lot of people. It also means that while we love to allege that white people are the only people who butcher Black people’s names, the truth is we, the…
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