Thanks to the popularity of Casey Gane McCalla’s fantastic list of the Top 50 Black Message Songs ever made, and thanks to the enthusiasm of Rev. Al Sharpton’s tens of thousands of radio listeners who have been calling in since Friday, here is an expanded list of the songs that have meant the most to us as a community.
Enjoy!
Top 50 Black Message Songs: 1-10
Top 50 Black Message Songs: 11-20
Top 50 Black Message Songs: 21-30
Top 50 Black Message Songs: 31-40
32 More Sharpton Message Songs, Part Two
32. Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes: Wake Up Everybody
31. James Brown & The famous Flames: Don’t Be a Dropout
30. Gil Scott Heron: Peace Go With You Brother
29. Sound of Blackness: Change
28. The Isley Brothers: Fight The Power
27. Kanye West: Jesus Walks
26. Curtis Mayfield: Freddie’s Dead
25. Sly & The Family Stone: Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey
24. James Brown: King Heroin
23. Aretha Franklin/Nina Simone: Young, Gifted and Black
22. McFadden & Whitehead: Ain’t No Stopping Us Now
21. The O’Jays: Love Train
20. The Staple Singers: Respect Yourself
19. Sam Cooke: A Change Is Gonna Come
18. Gil Scott Heron: Black History and The World
17. The Intruders: I’ll Always love My Mama
