Black Music Sunday: Let's talk about 'articulate' and the caucacity of Jann Wenner

Controversy has swirled around Jann Wenner, founder of Rolling Stone magazine and cofounder of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, since The New York Times published an interview with him on Sept. 15. The focus: His stunningly offensive defense of the choice to include only white male rock and rollers in his latest book, “Masters.” (Do you hear “Massas?”)

Wenner’s comments wound up getting him booted from the Rock Hall’s board of directors in 20 minutes, and his “apology” isn’t winning him any points with those he has offended.

Personally, I’ve had time to calm down a wee bit, but I want to explore how this situation is being covered, and how people are responding to it. This series is dedicated not just to the work of Black musicians, or their music across multiple genres—not just rock and roll, which Wenner, 77, considers to be his bailiwick. “Black Music Sunday” also chroncles the long history of erasure, exploitation, and appropriation of the work of Black artists. So it’s a fair assumption that I have pretty strong feelings about all of this, and not just about Wenner.

Let’s dig in.

”Black Music Sunday” is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music. With nearly 180 stories (and counting) covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack, I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.