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(note: this was originally submitted May 13, 2019 as a final assignment.)

Since the success of rapper Lil Nas X’s single “Old Town Road”, he can be found almost anywhere donning a cowboy hat. Cowboy imagery and country music have been hand in hand for decades. Even though songs may not tell stories of valiant heroes from the Wild West, modern country singers can be found wearing cowboy hats. However, a large portion of the way the heroic Western cowboy is portrayed has been left out of discussion. In the words of University of Texas Austin professor Omise’eke Tinsley, “Black Texans wear ten-gallon hats and bolo ties and ride street horses in the street as part of a cowboy heritage that mainstream country music routinely overlooks.” Country music is often depicted as a “white” genre, a genre that is dominated by white artists. While a majority of the artists that receive accolades like Grammy nominations and spots at the top of Billboard charts happen to be white, country music has always had a presence of Black artists. In fact, the first artist ever to sing at the Grand Ole Opry was DeFord Bailey, a Black man.

Recent articles discussing Black artists in country music often either contain the names Beyonce or Lil Nas X. While both artists have succeeded in making country songs, the lack of mention of the Black presence in country music without these names somewhat furthers the idea that Black artists are mentioned in times of controversy if only to prove some sort of point. If not that, mention of Black artists often has to come with the label of being a “Black country artist” — they can be found on “listicles” if you’re looking for 6 African-American Country Singers Who Changed Country Music.

Discussion of Black representation in country music comes and goes with scandals, often times. Black people have always been present in country music, yet when Black artists begin to find success, it is treated as an anomaly. Many articles tend to name the same artists — Darius Rucker, Charley Pride, maybe even that one Tina Turner album (Tina Turns The Country On!”) — the point being that the masses tend to have a handful of black country artists to use as tokens.

“I didn’t seek country music, I guess it just kinda fell under me,” says country musician Miko Marks. With over fifteen years of music making under her belt, she is eager to answer any questions I have about her experience. “I love helping the babies,” she jokes. Marks is a country singer from Flint, Michigan currently based in California. She has two albums out currently, both released over a decade ago.

Country music is looked at as a voice for the common American, with songs containing lyrics often dealing with day to day lamentations. For Marks, “country music just pulled on my heartstrings on an intimate level.” The emotionality and openness of the genre is what draws people to it. With the recent booting of rapper Lil Nas X from the Country category of Billboard charts, people have begun to wonder if country is a voice for the white American, rather than for all. This has especially been heightened with the exclusion of Beyonce from a country music Grammy nomination for her hit song, “Daddy Lessons.” However, this dilemma has created another question: are we not hearing Black voices in country music because there aren’t any or because they aren’t being covered?

The former idea seems unrealistic. Country music, like many other American music genres, has a history of African-American influence that was then co-opted by white voices, erasing their presence. Maiysha Kai alludes to this in the headline of her 2018 article, “Country Music Recognizes Its Roots as 2 Black Artists Hit No. 1” in reference to Jimmie Allen and Kane Brown both debuting at #1 on the country music charts. The genre, a mixture of African-American blues and Appalachian folk, has become dominated by white artists for decades, with there only being a few Black artists achieving success and renown.

The Lil Nas X controversy has sparked the debate of what makes a country song — is it the background of the singer, or the content of the song? Many country fans proclaim that the issue of the rapper’s “Old Town Road” track being removed from country charts isn’t a matter of racial gatekeeping, but a result of the fact that the rapper himself is not a real country artist. On country music blog Saving Country Music, writer Trigger (real name Kyle Coroneos) presents multiple articles shedding light on African-American artists hoping to preserve the integrity of country music, with his most recent one to date being “20 African American Artists better For Country Than Lil Nas X.” Even withing the comments of his article “African Americans Helping to Keep Country and Roots Music Alive,” readers are unable to deny the fact that there is limited coverage of Black country artists — “[Saving Country Music] is the only site where I learned anything about the Carolina Chocolate Drops, and Valerie June. And, now, Tony Jackson, and Aaron Vance. That’s a shame.” Even Coroneos himself notes the limited discussion of Black country artists when talking about some of his favorites, saying he’s “pretty much the only one writing about Aaron Vance.”

In speaking to Black country artists of their own experiences, there was much of a difference in attitude towards the presence of Black artists in the country music field, but there was an overall consensus on the fact that country music journalism is not doing enough to accurately represent its Black artists.

“There’s an oversight in journalism,” says Miko Marks, “as far as what’s mainstream and what’s being presented to the public. I definitely agree that there is not enough coverage. Real work is being done out there by African-Americans and Black people in country music. I can speak to that.” She explains that social media is playing a bigger role in the promotion of independent country artists than ever. “Thank God for social media, to a certain degree.”

Joy Styles, who is signed to Sony Red and 764 Records, had slightly differing sentiment. “I think it’s about who you know. I certainly have had my Billboard interviews. And if you are the next latest and greatest, they’re going to cover you cause you’re news. Period.”

There seems to be hope in a shift in coverage of Black country artists. For Styles, “the fact that there are two young Black males in country music right now, so many years after Darius [Rucker], is a huge sign of a shift of the people who are in positions of power now at the labels. [They] are able to see beyond color. And can just see talent. So now we have to find more females. And it’s totally doable, and I know it’s going to happen.” Miko Marks emphasizes the importance of community, and support amongst Black artists in this industry, naming artists who are somewhat up-and-coming like Rissi Palmer and Mickey Guyton.

Gospel country artist Darren Grant didn’t agree. When asked if he anticipated more space for Black country artists opening up in terms of journalism, he simply replied, “No. It’s sad, but we don’t get the same recognition as our white counterparts. No, I don’t see that.”