This was Millicent's speech to move the (MU) Motion 20: Being Black in the UK Music Industry, delivered at the TUC Black Workers Conference:
Good morning Conference. I am Millicent Stephenson, Musiciansâ Union, and I am moving Motion 20, âBeing Black In The Music Industryâ.
Music is important and woven into the fabric of our society. It motivates, soothes, conveys âI love youâ and âgood-byesâ. It is a social, physical, spiritual thing which goes through our being. What would life be like without music?
Music is also a professional career choice on par with any other. However, within the music industry there are stratas and issues. One of which is âbeing black in the music industryâ.
You may be familiar with Jazz music, songs like âSummertimeâ and âAt Lastâ, but did you know that it came from the black communities of the United States? Also, the root of Jazz is the âBluesâ, the music of African people, the victims of transatlantic slavery. This genre was originally scorned because o...