Virgil Abloh, Beyonce, Will Smith: The Influence Of Black History On Pop Culture
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By PAGE Editor
Black history is history. That's right, just like white history and European history and Asian history, black history is a major subject in the world of academia that students not only learn about in school but also spend their lives researching for personal enrichment. Black history is often taught in public schools to expose young kids to diversity before they are set out into the real world, where they will inevitably come across people of all colors.
However, black history is not just for children—adults can learn a great deal from it too. One area in which black history has had a profound impact is pop culture. Let's take a look at some of the ways black history has influenced pop culture.
Fashion
Black fashion has always been a source of inspiration for designers and stylists. For example, the popular "boho" look that's so popular today is heavily influenced by the style of African-Americans in the 1960s. This includes loose-fitting clothing, bright colours, and accessories such as necklaces and headscarves. Also, the all-over hoodie look that's especially popular with men was the favoured style of the African-American community in Harlem and other parts of New York City during the 1960s.
In more recent years, African-Americans have again made their mark on fashion, recently losing a pioneer in Virgil Abloh. The Adidas Yeezy Boosts are the most famous example of this—Kanye West's sneaker line is estimated to be worth nearly a billion dollars. Another pop culture figure who has had an enormous impact on fashion in recent years is Beyoncé. As well as influencing many of her own fashion choices, Beyoncé has also been a muse for other designers, such as Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren.
Further, black culture has also influenced the way people dress around the world. For example, Indian women have been wearing saris in their traditional style for centuries, but more recently they have started to wear them in a style that is inspired by African-American women.
Music
The music industry would be a very different place without the influence of black history. One of the earliest and most successful black music groups was The Supremes, which rose to fame in the 1960s. Since then, black musicians have had a huge impact on popular music. Some of the most famous examples include Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston. In fact, it's hard to think of a single mainstream genre of music that hasn't been influenced by black artists. Hip-hop, for example, was created by African-Americans in the Bronx in the 1970s.
Meanwhile, home-grown pop music in the UK has often been influenced by black acts. Stevie Wonder was one of the biggest influences on The Beatles.
Also, the dance genre dubstep was famously influenced by Jamaican music. Black history has also heavily influenced R&B and soul music. In fact, the ever-popular Motown sound was developed in Detroit by African-American record producers in the 1960s.
Dance
As well as being a major music genre in its own right, dance has always been heavily influenced by black history. One of the most famous examples is Michael Jackson's signature move "the moonwalk." This distinctive dance style was first made famous by legendary African-American tap dancer Bill Bailey. Dance also plays an important part in hip-hop culture, and many other dance styles such as popping and locking were popularised by African-Americans.
One particular area of the world that has been heavily influenced by black culture is Brazil. This is because it has one of the biggest African-descendant populations in the world, and its Carnaval festival is famous for its emphasis on dance and music, which has its roots in African culture.
Brazil is not the only country to highlight the importance of dance through festivals—one of the most famous examples is India's Holi festival, which is celebrated with dancing and music. However, modern-day black history has had an impact on this too, as it has inspired many of today's dancers. For example, the bhangra dance style is a fusion of Indian and African-American styles.
Film
Black history has also had a significant impact on world cinema. One of the earliest examples is The Birth of a Nation (1915), which was directed by D.W. Griffith portrayed African-Americans in a negative light. However, in recent years, there has been a proliferation of films featuring African-American characters and themes. Some of the most famous examples include Do The Right Thing (1989), Boyz N The Hood (1991), and 12 Years A Slave (2013).
Also, the rise in popularity of rap music during the 1980s saw many black film stars crossing over from music videos to feature films. Some of the most notable examples include Laurence Fishburne, Wesley Snipes, and Will Smith.
In fact, one of the biggest comedies of all time is a film that was inspired by a real-life rap group called The Four Seasons. This was turned into the 2003 film The Inbetweeners Movie, which was a box office smash hit.
In conclusion, black history has had a significant impact on world pop culture. From music to dance, and fashion to film, the influence of black history is unmistakable.
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