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Music has long served as a tool of rebellion for people of color. Particularly in America, where nearly every music genre originated in Black culture, the entertainment industry insisted on segregation from the start, first giving us minstrelsy and then the false construct of pitting “race records” against “hillbilly music.” But in Africa, too, where many enslaved Americans’ musical traditions originated, music has also often provided a method of joyous response to oppression. Several Peabody-recognized works have explored these intersections, illuminating the work of Sly and the Family Stone, Fela Kuti, Beyoncé, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more.
‘Fela Kuti: Fear No Man’
Podcast host Jad Abumrad explores the life and work of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti through 12 audio episodes. We learn about the artist’s philosophy that art can be weaponized against oppressive regimes; his club in Lagos, The Shrine, that serves as the center of his countercultural movement; and his group’s sometimes violent confrontations with the Nigerian government. Throughout the series, influential figures such as Burna Boy, Paul McCartney, Questlove, and Barack Obama reflect on Fela’s far-reaching influence and impact.
Where to Listen: Apple Podcasts
Explore More Fela Kuti on Peabody’s Website
‘Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)’
In this documentary, director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson illuminates the life, career, and legacy of ’60s and ’70s funk and soul band Sly and the Family Stone while also exploring the larger question of what it means to be a Black genius in America. To do so, he interviews a killer lineup of talking heads, including Andre 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rodgers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and George Clinton. It’s the rare biographical documentary that manages to celebrate its subject (that is, largely, bandleader Sly Stone) while still looking unflinchingly at his flaws—and identifying the social forces behind those flaws.
Where to Watch: Disney+
Explore More Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) on Peabody’s Website
‘Great Performances: Hamilton’s America’
This PBS film documents the history of and creative process behind Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway sensation Hamilton. Director Alex Horwitz was shooting Miranda and the musical’s director, Thomas Kail, starting in 2013, when the show was still in its developmental stages, and continued to film until it became a massive Broadway hit and cultural phenomenon because of its diverse, color-blind casting of America’s Founding Fathers and its use of modern musical styles, namely rap and R&B. The result is an intimate, behind-the-scenes document of history in the making—about history in the making.
Where to Watch: PBS.org
‘Lemonade’
Beyoncé’s 2016 masterpiece visual album tells a story of marital betrayal and reconciliation, equating it with the larger struggle of Black women in America. Beyoncé’s no-holds-barred lyric-writing—and, let’s face it, her willingness to leverage her famous marriage to Jay-Z—made the music a shockingly vulnerable listen. But the visuals take it to another level, referencing slavery sites, Yoruba body paint, the Santeria religion, and New Orleans culture. (That is, along with the iconic image of Beyoncé smashing up cars in that yellow Roberto Cavalli dress.) Since Lemonade‘s release ten years ago, Beyoncé has continued the project of tying her music to African and Black American history with 2020’s Black Is King, 2022’s Renaissance, and 2024’s Cowboy Carter. We are, incidentally, about due to learn what her next album will be.
Where to Watch: Apple Music
Explore More Lemonade on Peabody’s Website
‘Mavis!’
Jessica Edwards‘ 2015 documentary film follows soul legend and civil rights activist Mavis Staples—who continues to perform to this day—to tell her story, from ’60s freedom songs and ’70s hits like “I’ll Take You There” to collaborations with artists as diverse as Prince and Jeff Tweedy. Staples’ spirit shines through live performances and rare archival footage, while Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Levon Helm, Chuck D., and others testify to her influence. Variety critic Joe Leydon called it “a spirited and captivating bio-doc that richly deserves the exclamation point in its title.”
Where to Watch: MavisFilm.com
Explore More Mavis! on Peabody’s Website
Executive Producer Steve Pamon’s Peabody Acceptance for ‘Lemonade’
“We’ve been up for a lot of awards, but I have to say we’re truly honored and humbled because this award is about storytelling and the craft. … Quite candidly, what Lemonade proved to all of us is that the more specific you become, the more universal you are.”
Where to Watch: PeabodyAwards.com