CLEVELAND — The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is celebrating Black History Month by highlighting some of their collections.
Joe Wickens, the Hall’s collections and exhibit manager, pointed to one of their first exhibits, called “It’s Been Said all Along”.
“It’s about how artists have used rock and roll as a vehicle to bring about social change,” he said “The subtitle is rage, hope and empowerment and what that does is kind of get into the different angles in which artists have gone about using rock and roll in that manner.”
Another artifact on display is Beyoncé’s dress from her “Run the World” music video. Wickens said it’s a positive representation of a strong Black woman for people to look up to.
“Beyonce is an empowering person, just in general. I think girls of all races are going to look to her as someone that can be empowering,” he said.
Wickens said he wants people to walk through the different exhibits and remember what a large contribution that Black history made on rock and roll music.
“I think that we need to understand where this music came from, who in large part is responsible for it and I think we need to study that, examine it and celebrate that. Certainly celebrate that and February is a perfect time to do that,” he said.
Wickens said the Hall celebrates the successes that Black musicians have had and continue to have all year long.
“We’re constantly talking about Black history here at the museum. It’s a year-round thing. So if you come in November, come in October, you know we’re still celebrating, we’re still examining Black history here at the the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” he said.
You can see the highlighted artifacts throughout the month of February and the rest of the year.
