June = Black Music Month "The one good thing George Bush Jr did"

BLACK MUSIC HISTORY MONTH

While I disagree with about oh.......98.9% of the shit that George Bush Jr + Sr did while they were in the White House and in other high ranking positions that they held in our government. I must give Jr his props on starting Black Music Month, or at least having the first one on 2005. It's a small step and may seem insignificant but hey he did something. Bush acknowleges the works of some of our greatest musicians but let me add some names to the list here

JAMES BROWN
ARETHA FRANKLIN
MAHALIA JACKSON
SAM COOKE
OTIS REDDING
B.B KING
MUDDY WATERS
JOHN COLTRANE
GILL SCOTT HERON
SLY STONE
GEORGE CLINTON
JOHN COLTRANE
CHARLES "BIRD" PARKER
ISSAC HAYES
ANITA BAKER
MICHAEL JACKSON
RUN DMC
WHODINI
AND THIS LIST CAN GO ON FOR DAYS BUT YOU GET MY POINT

Praising their works as "...the voice of hope in the face of injustice,"

President Bush recounted the artistry of famed black musicians, like Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday, in proclaiming June 2005 as Black Music month. "Black music's origins are found in the work songs and spirituals that bore witness to the cruelty of bondage and the strength of faith," wrote the President.

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
During Black Music Month, we pay tribute to a rich musical tradition and honor the many contributions African-American musicians, singers, and composers have made to the culture of our Nation and to the world. This powerful, moving, and soulful music speaks to every heart, lifting us in times of sorrow and helping us celebrate in times of joy.

Black music's origins are found in the work songs and spirituals that bore witness to the cruelty of bondage and the strength of faith. In the strains of those songs, we hear the voice of hope in the face of injustice. From those roots, black music has grown into a diverse collection of styles, and it continues to evolve today. Black music captures a part of the American spirit and continues to have a profound impact on our country.

This month is an opportunity to reflect upon the achievements of African-American artists and to look forward to the future. We remember Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and countless others for their love of music and their pioneering and passionate spirit. We celebrate today's musicians who continue to build upon the rich and vital heritage of black music.