The 1960s were filled with great disappointments for the Black community. From the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X to the war in Vietnam to the heroin epidemic, the Black community was in great need of an escape from all the pain and suffering that filled the decade. Finally, for the first time in 1969, the Black community was able to find solace in all the madness. The Harlem Cultural Festival provided the Black community with the escape they needed. Through the songs and lyrics of artists like Nina Simone, Blacks found inspiration and were able to feel liberated from all the pain occurring around them, even if it was for the duration of the concert. 

Full of life and embrace, The Harlem Cultural Festival was the first time in Black history that there was a celebration and acceptance of Black culture of such magnitude. Afros, dashikis, and bellbottoms filled the festival as the audience heard affirmations from performers reminding them that being black was beautiful and that one should be proud to be Black. As a result, the festival became a safe place to showcase Black talent and culture. 

It was bringing together artists and people from different backgrounds that set the Harlem Cultural Festival apart from any other music festival. It was the first time where Latin and Black artists performed together. Cuban and Puerto Rican artists like Watermelon Man performed for the crowds during this summer. The festival showcased all black cultures, including those of African, Latin, and Caribbean descent. 

The Harlem music festival was not just a showcase of black talent but a political statement of Black and Brown communities.