Throwback: Happy Black History Month: James Brown

Today is the 29th day of Black History Month. Happy Leap Day y’all! Throughout the month, I’ve spent time celebrating Black artists across an eclectic array of genres and styles.

As long as JOVM is a thing I’ll continue to do. First as a Black person, I want to constant celebrate Black artists and Black Minds. But I want it to be a constant reminder of the following:

• Black History is American History
• Black culture is American culture
• Black minds, Black art and most important, Black lives matter. Full stop.

I’ve talked about:

• Rick James, who was born 76 years ago on February 1
• OutKast‘s Big Boi, who celebrated his 49th birthday on February 1
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe
• John Lee Hooker
• Patti LaBelle
• The Temptations‘ second and longest tenured lead vocalist Dennis Edwards, who was born 81 years ago on February 4
• Tina Turner
• Aretha Franklin 
• Bobby Brown, who celebrated his 55th birthday on February 5
• Bob Marley, who was born 79 years ago on February 6
• The Supremes
• J. Dilla, who was born 50 years ago on February 7
• Queen Latifah
• Black Moon, DJ Evil Dee and Buckshot
• Dionne Warwick
• Big Mama Thornton
• Evelyn “Champagne” King
• Bad Brains
• Fishbone 
• Grace Jones
• TLC
• Maceo Parker, who celebrated his 81st birthday on February 14 
• SWV 
• Meshell Ndegeocello 
• Ice T, who celebrated his 66th birthday on February 16
• Dr. Dre, who  celebrated his 59th birthday on February 18
• Seal, who celebrated his 61st birthday on February 19
• The great Smokey Robinson also celebrated his 84th birthday on February 19
• John Coltrane 
• Nina Simone, who was born 91 years ago on February 21
• Chaka Khan
• Mary J. Blige
• Ella Fitzgerald 
• Erykah Badu
• Luther Vandross
• Jimi Hendrix 
• Pioneering garage rock/punk rock outfit Death 

I have to close out Black History Month with James Brown, the legendary soul brother number 1. I don’t think you can get any blacker than James Brown performing “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)” in Zaire.