Am I Black Enough For You? (1972)

From blackwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
68BFD8A4-B398-4112-89B2-A9FB8FEE3CD8.jpg

“Am I Black Enough for You?” is a 1972 soul song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by Billy Paul for his album 360 Degrees of Billy Paul on Philadelphia International Records. Released as a single in April 1973 it failed to replicate the chart success of Paul's previous number-one smash "Me and Mrs. Jones", instead reaching #79 on the Billboard pop chart and #29 on the soul chart.[1]

Key Lyrics

We're gonna move on up, one by one

We ain't gonna stop 'till the work gets done

Am I black enough for you?

Black Empowerment

The up-tempo funk song with a political message was a considerable departure for audiences expecting the smooth balladry of Paul's previous single, although that track dealt with the social issue of adultery. AllMusic's Andrew Hamilton said that the song "fit in with the times of overt black consciousness, a social message moved along by a perky bongo and clavinet-dominated beat, and well-spaced, brassy horn hits."[2]

In his 2005 article "Message in the Music: Political Commentary in Black Popular Music from Rhythm and Blues to Early Hip Hop," Professor James B. Stewart wrote: "The Black Power Movement and the emphasis on black pride arising in the mid-1960s and blossoming in the early 1970s inspired several Defiant Challenge commentaries that incorporated Black Power ideological elements. Representative songs articulating the theme of black pride include James Brown's 'Say It Loud' (1969) and Billy Paul's 'Am I Black Enough for You?'.... Gamble and Huff's lyrics emphasize the need for listeners to continue struggling until the goals have been achieved and to be steadfast in embracing their black identity, as expressed in the turn of phrase, 'stay Black enough for you'."[3]

Reference