Jones understood all art, especially Black art, is ‘political’

Music producing legend Quincy Jones, whose career spanned decades and influenced the sounds of several genres of music, died at 91.

Victoria Netanus Xaka is a black feminist sound theorist and abolitionist educator at Cornell University. Xaka says Quincy Jones understood the political aspect of art.

Xaka says: “Jones was famously candid, open, and brave. Candid enough to be constantly in trouble for telling it like it is. Open enough for his signature sound to be constantly evolving.  Brave enough to understand that all art, and most especially Black art, is political, and that he had a public responsibility to speak against the injustices of the world.

“He never stopped challenging himself to meet the social obligations of his talent. While Jones’ legacy certainly includes a rich and abundant archive of timeless music, I hope we also remember his courage to keep learning and growing until the day he died.”

For interviews contact Kaitlyn Serrao, cell (607) 882-1140, kms465@cornell.edu