From Kendrick's Pulitzer to Beychella: how the mainstream woke up to black excellence
This week the unparalleled contributions of black performers were finally recognised by the establishment. Why has it taken so long?
Did she just say … Kendrick Lamar? The satisfied little smile on Pulitzer prize administrator Dana Canedy’s face as she announced the final award of the afternoon confirmed what I thought I surely had misheard. In awarding the first Pulitzer for a hip-hop album and artist, the music jury, which included the jazz violinist Regina Carter and Columbia professor Farah Jasmine Griffin, cited Lamar’s “vernacular authenticity” and “affecting vignettes … on African-American life”. In other words, the boy can rap.
It has been an abundant week for black excellence: ; Beyoncé delivered ; and yes, Kendrick Lamar won a Pulitzer prize. We seem to be having a moment. But is it
