As we’ve seen in Jimi Hendrix’s performance during Woodstock, music can be used in subjugation of African Americans, and bring awareness of the injustice to the general public and across the nation. Black music can do this in several ways. At Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s State of the City address, singer Rene Marie sang the “black national anthem” Lift Every Voice and Sing, due to the inequalities African Americans faced during Jim Crow era. The “Star Spangled Banner” symbolized freedom, which did not apply to African Americans who were denied civil rights. Instead, at the State of the City address, Marie sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” in tune of the “Star Spangled Banner”. Marie’s song choice, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, was written during the Reconstruction era, which was not a good time for African Americans. It was written to uplift the spirits of African Americans who faced subjugation and to embrace the fight for black freedom. Jay-Z’s song, “99 Problems”, was written to express problems he faced as an African American.  According to the article “Every Tone Was a Testimony”, “Jay-Z’s ’99 Problems’ is the subject of a similar reading by Caleb Mason on the phenomenon of ‘driving while black.’ And it is precisely this aspect of black performance – particularly through music – that sets it apart from the performative utterances of law.” Jay-Z’s song discusses the conflicts he came across living in “the hood”, such as being discriminated against by the justice system. For example, Jay-Z in his song raps “half a mil for bail ’cause I’m African”. No matter where in time, during Jim Crow era, Reconstruction era, or currently, black music is used to describe the issues they go through and the injustices they face, to bring awareness of those injustices, as well as lifting the spirits of those who are facing these injustices and motivate them to continue fighting against it.