April 30, 2022
One of the most unique and thought-provoking articles I have read as of late is titled “Funk Music Taught Me How to Be an Environmentalist”, written by Ko Bragg and published by Harper’s Bazaar. It details how African-American musicians, such as Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, explored natural beauty and gave voice to concerns of pollution and environmental racism during the rise of the environmentalism movement. Although I have long understood music’s profound impact on social justice initiatives, I never considered its contributions to the fight against climate change. After all, when most people think of rallying cries for environmentalism, they probably think of news stories, organized protests, research studies, social media posts, and possibly visual art. This article opened my eyes to how music can be an equally powerful medium to convey these messages. Wonder, Gaye, and many of their contemporaries called us to action decades ago; now more than ever, Bragg explains, we ought to listen in and take their words to heart.
