Explore the origins and evolution of popular music forms that originated in the African American community. Vivian Fisher, one of the Depute Director’s for the State Library Resource Center, will discuss the social and cultural changes that impacted each genre’s development and revisit the songs and artists who remain timeless influences.

This program is being presented in conjuncture with the One Maryland One Book program, sponsored by the Maryland Humanities. No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore by Lawrence Burney was chosen as this year’s OMOB and focuses on Burney’s thoughts on his home city of Baltimore, music from the global Black diaspora, and the traditions, people, places, music, and art that made shaped his upbringing.