JEFF HAYNES/AFP through Getty Pictures; Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns;James Kriegsmann/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Pictures; Graphic by Jackie Lay
When Nineteen Nineties woman group SWV visited the Tiny Desk throughout Black Music Month 2024, we started enthusiastic about the legacy, evolution and present state of the Black woman group. It looks like we weren’t the one ones.
In varied pockets of social media we discovered individuals asking a typical query, “The place are the Black woman teams?” All through the a long time, scores of followers watched formations like The Supremes, Sister Sledge or TLC and imagined themselves the “Diana,” or “Joni,” or “Left Eye”of their very own buddy teams.
Music and tradition journalist Naima Cochrane provides us perception on the music trade challenges and cultural shifts that contributed to the decline of Black woman teams on the charts and in popular culture. Additionally,new acts FLO, The Shindellas and The BoykinZ share how they’re persevering with the legacy of the Black woman group and forging their very own future.
And what good would it not be to easily discuss concerning the legacy of Black woman teams and never hearken to their music? Try our playlist beneath that includes a number of the teams which have made an influence over the a long time.
Graphics: Jackie Lay, Supervising Visuals Editor: Becky Lettenberger, Supervising Music Editor: Sidney Madden