With Liberty and Justice For All Book Club: Music is History
Free and open to everyone!
The With Liberty and Justice for All Book Club is back! This month, join us at our downtown museum location to explore the exhibition, Tarek Atoui: The Whisperers, then, meet us on the open-air roof deck as librarians from the Austin Public Library lead us in a stimulating discussion of Questlove’s Music Is History.
Co-hosted by The Austin Public Library and The Contemporary Austin, the With Liberty and Justice for All Book Club is dedicated to the discussion of selected works of fiction, poetry, or visual art that consider themes of racism, institutional violence, social justice, empathy, healing, and community.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Music Is History combines Questlove’s deep musical expertise with his curiosity about history, examining America over the past fifty years. Focusing on the years 1971 to the present, Questlove finds hidden connections in the American tapestry, whether by investigating how the blaxploitation era reshaped Black identity or considering how disco took an assembly-line approach to Black genius. These critical inquiries complement his own memories as a music fan and reflections on how his appetite for pop culture taught him about America. A history of the last half-century and an intimate conversation with one of music’s most influential and original voices, Music Is History offers a singular look at contemporary American culture and society.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:
- Listen to the specially curated playlist for this bookclub meeting!
- Further reading: Bridgett Henwood, “The history of American protest music, from “yankee doodle” to Kendrick Lamar".