Rock n roll and all its derivatives are thought to be music created through the white man stealing from the black man. In my opinion, although early “white” rock, jazz and blues  players did “steal” from their “black” counterparts, is this not true for any industry? Ingenuity, whether it be science or arts, or anything in between has been built on what came before. Because much of popular music is, in some way, rooted in slave music, criticism results from racial stigma.

Progress is often made when an old idea is changed through a new perspective. Writers cite other writers as influences that helped them develop new styles and write literary classics. Painters cite other painters as inspiration for their works. Although musicians may cite other musicians as influence to their work, ultimately they are seen, in some way, as stealing from black culture.

I find this criticism of music because of race unfair. I find the idea of race in the US very interesting. There are places in the country with blatant racists with white people who belittle everyone else and black people who are so sensitive to issues concerning race they are oppressing anyone else. On the opposite side, you have areas with the increasing blending of race to where nobody knows what they are anymore. Employers are starting to do away with the race box in applications.

I write music. The idea that I steal from black people is absurd to me. Yes, in some long winded way my music is built on old slave songs, but its not stolen. I think we are all creatures who are ingenious and simultaneously not. The present is built from the past, and creators shouldn’t be criticized for their influences.