A new book is using music to explore Black history and political activism. The book is called “In the Spirit, In the Dark: Black Music and Political Activism.” Dr. Najja Baptist, the director of African and African American studies at the University of Arkansas, said the event will give people the opportunity to reflect, share perspectives and continue conversations. “It’s about how experiences of all Americans are different. It’s about the question of, that Black liberation is American liberation. And this liberation has always been inside of the music,” Baptist said.He said some of the music genres the book explores are blues, jazz and hip hop.“A large Black population to come out to actually understand the Black political experience from a different perspective. And hopefully galvanize them in a different way so they understand that their everyday lived experiences matters,” Baptist said.Tanya Evans, the multicultural outreach librarian at the Springdale Public Library, said events like this help introduce new perspectives.“This is going to be the first time we’ve had an author come in who wrote a book about political activism,” Evans said.Baptist said understanding the past is key to building a better future. He started writing the book in 2021.“These experiences from the past are resurfacing now. We fix the problem not by ignoring the past, not by saying the past doesn’t happen, or trying to start from here, but acknowledge the atrocities of the past and how it shapes and impacts us today,” Baptist said.The event is Feb. 28 at the Springdale Public Library.
A new book is using music to explore Black history and political activism.
The book is called “In the Spirit, In the Dark: Black Music and Political Activism.”
Dr. Najja Baptist, the director of African and African American studies at the University of Arkansas, said the event will give people the opportunity to reflect, share perspectives and continue conversations.
“It’s about how experiences of all Americans are different. It’s about the question of, that Black liberation is American liberation. And this liberation has always been inside of the music,” Baptist said.
He said some of the music genres the book explores are blues, jazz and hip hop.
“A large Black population to come out to actually understand the Black political experience from a different perspective. And hopefully galvanize them in a different way so they understand that their everyday lived experiences matters,” Baptist said.
Tanya Evans, the multicultural outreach librarian at the Springdale Public Library, said events like this help introduce new perspectives.
“This is going to be the first time we’ve had an author come in who wrote a book about political activism,” Evans said.
Baptist said understanding the past is key to building a better future. He started writing the book in 2021.
“These experiences from the past are resurfacing now. We fix the problem not by ignoring the past, not by saying the past doesn’t happen, or trying to start from here, but acknowledge the atrocities of the past and how it shapes and impacts us today,” Baptist said.
The event is Feb. 28 at the Springdale Public Library.