Is Jimi Hendrix Black?

Of course he is, but we forget that fact.

Here’s the issue: If I ask the average music fan to list legendary rock legends, Jimi Hendrix would likely be one of the first names out of anyone’s lips. However, I’m sure if I poll the streets asking people to name iconic black music legends, Hendrix would be a mere afterthought.

For example, here is a list titled “12 Black Musicians Who Changed Music Forever,” and Jimi Hendrix is not on it.

12 Black Musicians Who Changed Music Forever

We all know the narrative of African Americans being the originators of two major music genres that are, ironically, probably the least popular among black listeners today: rock and country. But how did this happen?

In the early 20th century, with Jim Crow laws in place, the goal was to create a clear distinction between black and white, and the two communities were separated in every way possible–including music. At this time, the lines separating music genres were much more blurred. However, by the 1960’s, Black artists were rebranded as “rhythm n’ blues,” leaving “rock n’ roll” to their white counterparts, which included bands who landed in the United States for the first time as part of the British Invasion (think The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, etc.).

We also recognize Elvis Presley as one of the most popular names dropped in rap verses (i.e., Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”) for stealing rock from contemporary black musicians–a misguided narrative. There’s always a discussion on Elvis’s perceived cultural appropriation and rumored racism, but what is rarely discussed is the rise of one of the most legendary black guitarists–reclaiming a genre that his community was being pushed out of–all during Elvis’s decline.

There’s no denying that Hendrix has maintained an abundance of fans in the five decades since his death, especially his white audience. But his main audience doesn’t seem to perceive him as a rock god who just happens to be black, nor do they perceive him as a black rock artist. I would argue that his race is almost entirely erased when it comes to the legacy he left behind. In fact, this racial erasure is not just a product of his legacy; Jimi struggled with his racial identity and belonging his whole life.

He definitely tried to be black, and at the beginning of his short career, he followed a similar path that many black musicians did in the 1960’s. After being discharged from the army, Jimi made his way to Nashville’s Jefferson Street–the home to a rising rhythm and blues scene–where he played back up for greats like Jackie Wilson and, Ike and Tina Turner. He continued to do this once he subsequently moved to Harlem and became the lead guitarist for the Isley Brothers, and later, Little Richard.

What was different about Jimi was that he grew bored quickly of whatever situation he found himself in. He moved from Tennessee to Harlem, from Harlem to Greenwich Village, and finally from Greenwich Village to London. Along with these relocations, he also frequently switched performing gigs, getting tired of playing the same songs every night on tour. Eventually, he got tired of being pigeon-holed into the “rhythm and blues” category that he was expected to stick to by virtue of being African-American, and decided to branch out into other genres–namely “rock and roll.” That is where Jimi stopped being black.

Remember when I said that by the 1960’s music was distinctly divided into black = r&b, white = rock? Well Jimi is an example of what happened when an artist crossed over to their counterparts genre; their race did not come with them. Jimi’s crossover to rock almost seemed to void his early career as a blues artists because, to an observer, he entered an almost entirely all white world, even though his music continued to be influenced by the early blues sound that made him.

We now have many black artists who have successfully infiltrated and reclaimed the rock and roll genre, notably Tina Turner and Prince in the 1980’s to Lenny Kravitz and Slash in the 1990’s, all of whom have acknowledged Hendrix as an influence. Even better, now, in the early 21st century, rock is being reintegrated into the r&b genre. Despite all of this progression in black music, the racial erasure that Jimi was victim to during his short career continues to be how many think of him today. Jimi’s misfortune is that he was ahead of his time.

Nonetheless, whether it is directly clear or not, Jimi Hendrix has left his imprint on black music merely by not conforming to the standards of his race that were being placed on him during his time. He led the way for many black artists to experiment with other genres without feeling like they don’t belong.

Watch this video of Jimi performing “Hey Joe” to a seemingly all white audience. Included is his infamous teeth solo.

Check out my favourite Jimi Hendrix album, Are You Experienced.