Can Music Transcend Racial Divides? How? It's Not Automatic?

Does music connect us across cultures? Absolutely. And it’s not a guarantee without conversation, curiosity, and cultural history. ?So, how does music do that? It's a lot more than just listening; it is feeling, understanding, and learning to appreciate the very rich history that lies within the music itself. It’s about being curious about where it began, the origin story, and the people that birthed the music.

In our last episode of Everyday Conversations Across Race, I enjoyed speaking with Kaati Gaffney and Ashel Seasunz Eldridge. Their stories illustrate how music can dramatically close cultural gaps and unite people.

Kaati is a very dynamic music marketer and a festival consultant. She shared her experiences growing up in this musically diverse place, San Francisco. She is not selling reggae and blues but vibrant communities where people from all walks of life come to bond with their shared love of music. In the view of Kaati, festivals are not just mere events; they are platforms of sharing, connection, and learning from one another.

Ashel's story will inspire you to want to know and hear more. An artist, healer, and activist, he followed a fierce sense of mission across the country from Chicago to the West Coast: to use music for the healing and empowerment of others. He has made everything from hip-hop to sound healing, bringing transformation and unity to otherwise marginalized people within a community by way of his organization, SFETA. His musical style reflects a wide array of artists who break borders, creating spaces to do just that—be moved.

The many distinctions that mark our modern world into races, cultures, and ethnicities often serve as barriers to understanding and appreciation. Music provides the opportunity, however, to bridge these gaps. Delving into the stories, traditions, and histories from which this music comes fosters a better understanding and love for the cultures from which these sounds emanate.

Any conversation about connecting across cultures through music has to include cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation. It's one thing to like music from various cultures, but it's another to feel that one is learning or discovering something through it. Knowledge regarding the history and significance of music from other cultures enhances the experience and helps connect genuinely. It's about inquiring and learning what's behind these songs and appreciating the culture that they come from.

Music has the magic ability to transgress barriers such as language and society. Whether it's the powerful lyrics of songs you feel or that rhythm that just gets you moving, music unites us in ways that words by themselves cannot. But it's up to us to take that next step—to interact, learn, and appreciate.

Ashel is one of those bright humans whose work in our podcast shines. Through his music, he allows space for people to reconnect with themselves, with their communities, and the world.

In this Conversation About Race, Ashel told us a compelling story about how he used culture to connect and address conflicts. He described a musical event organized by a Jewish friend pre-October 7, to be held post-October 7, which was to include Hebrew songs. “My friend expressed anger and frustration about the situation in Israel and Palestine. Instead of dismissing his feelings, our community created a safe space for open dialogue and understanding. By incorporating Hebrew songs alongside Palestinian prayers at an event, we demonstrated how cultural elements can be used to facilitate conversations, build bridges, and promote reconciliation.”

This is a reminder that within this world so commonly divided by race, ethnicity, and social status, music can act as a beacon of hope and unity. Yes, music can connect us across cultures. It can, but it takes more than passive listening. Active engagement, respect, and a real desire to learn about and from others. Tune in to more inspiring stories and how you can be part of this beautiful, musical journey toward unity. Let us find ways to connect, appreciate our differences, and celebrate the rich tapestry of culture behind the music.

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Culture Can Connect Us

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