Parents and their children delve into musical genre’s impact as part of the Black History Study Palm Beach County Program
What does “hip-hop” have to do with Black history?
As Brian Knowles explained it, “hip hop” IS Black history. It is a lyrical collaboration of cultural communication, resistance in the face of unrelenting oppression, and a way to share information that literally moves people.
On Nov. 9, 2024, Knowles led an engaging discussion on how hip-hop came to be, what communities it served and how it continues to be an effective method to relay information that might otherwise go unlearned. Using videos, music, games and his own exhaustive knowledge of the genre, Knowles tapped into a world that made his class dance, remember and most importantly, relate.
This was another meaningful moment for the students of the Black History Study Palm Beach County Program, launched in October 2024, as an educational collaboration of the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, the Black History Project, and the Palm Beach County African Diaspora Historical and Cultural Society. The instructor, Knowles, is the founder of Power Builders Curriculum and Pedagogies, LLC, an educational consulting company that supports schools, community organizations, and education-focused nonprofits in creating culturally affirming spaces. He also
serves as Manager of the Office of African, African American, Latino, Holocaust, and Gender Studies within the School District of Palm Beach County.
“The elements of hip-hop are ‘call and response,’ which originated in African cultures; drum beats, which are known universally as an original form of communication; and talking over the music, which we call ‘rapping’,” he said. “But another element of hip-hop is its demonstration of resistance and joy in the face of oppressive forces, such as gentrification, institutionalized discrimination, economic instability, and police brutality.
“Something good was born of something bad in the 1970s, on the streets of New York City – and that something good was hip-hop.”
Hip-hop was born from many influences – African, Asian, Caribbean and Latino – which Knowles delved into during the Saturday morning session. Parents and their children took turns answering questions, sharing stories and playing games that combined hip-hop music and international history.
Creating a place and space for this type of historical explanation and dialogue is just one part of the Black History Study Palm Beach County Program. Taking the lessons outside the classroom and into the community is phase two. The goal is to marry the students’ everyday existence with their history and cultural lineage in ways that are immersive and memorable, having a positive effect on their self-esteem, self-image and mental health.
Stay tuned. More is to come!
Learn more about the Black History Study Palm Beach County Program, click here.