What is the Summer of Soul?
The Summer of Soul is a documentary directed by Questlove that showcases footage of the Harlem Cultural Festival that, until now, had never been seen before. The film also includes The Harlem Cultural Festival, also known as the “Black Woodstock” took place in Harlem, New York at Mount Morris Park in 1969 and was free for all to attend. The festival went on for a span of six weeks. At this concert, audience members were able to experience music from many different genres, including but not limited to, gospel, blues, and R&B. It showcased artists and performers such as Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson, David Ruffin (former lead of The Temptations), Jesse Jackson, and comedian Moms Mabley.
Summer of Soul Performances
Cultural Significance of the Harlem Culture Festival
The significance of the Harlem Cultural Festival is that it served as a celebration of Blackness in all of its fonts. Though not all of the performers were Black, it showcased a large variety of Black talent at a time when it was needed the most. This concert took place in 1969, which was a very eventful year. In 1969, Americans saw a man land on the moon, the Stonewall riots, and students protest against the war in Vietnam. But most significant to the festival, is the increased rise of the Civil Rights Movement. With the death of Malcolm X in 1965 and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, Black people were devastated and angry, and that year there was looting and riots in Harlem that threatened to ruin the city. This concert provided Black people with an experience that was both accessible and rich in culture, one that could distract them from the problems they faced on a daily basis. In addition to this, the Harlem Culture Festival served as a counter-discourse to the negative stereotypes of Black people because it was such a positive representation of Black artistry. It demonstrated the range, creativity, power, and joy that existed within the Black community. Black Woodstock was a festival where all Black people were able to feel accepted, understood, and celebrated when the rest of the world refused to do so.
