Alleanna Harris Profile picture
Feb 25, 2023 11 tweets 4 min read Read on X
Today's Black History Month illustration is of Marvin Gaye's 1971 concept album What's Going On. This album is considered one of the greatest albums of the 20th century and one of the landmark recordings in pop music history.
Here are five interesting facts about the legendary album: The cover of Marvin Gaye’s 1971 album, What’s Going On.
1. What’s Going On was one of R&B’s first concept albums. The album is from the point of view of a Vietnam War veteran returning back to the US and seeing hatred and injustice. The back of the What’s Going On album. Marvin Gaye stands
2. The album uses a “song cycle.” Each song flows into each other, like one long single.
3. Marvin Gaye's lyrics discuss themes such as: the Vietnam War (What’s Happening Brother?), global warming and the natural world (Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)), and urban poverty and police violence (Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)). A black and white photo of Marvin Gaye sitting down and hold
4. Berry Gordy didn’t like “What’s Going On,” calling it “the worst thing I ever heard in my life.” Marvin Gaye went on strike until Gordy changed his mind. Here’s a clip of a live performance from 1972:
5. Marvin Gaye’s multi-layered vocals were actually an accident by the engineers, Steve Smith and Kenneth Sands.
They originally were going to listen to two vocal takes of “What’s Going On’ to figure out which one to use for the final version. Smith and Sands accidentally mixed the two lead vocals together, and Marvin Gaye loved the sound. He decided to use the approach for the album. Marvin Gaye smiling and sitting at the piano, wearing his fa
“What’s Going On” continues to be Marvin Gaye’s and one of Motown’s most important musical and social statements. A What’s Going On photoshoot outtake
I’ll be back tomorrow with another illustration and story! #BHM #illustration
You can find my other BHM illustrations here:

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More from @alleannaharris

Feb 26, 2023
Today's Black History Month illustration is of Josephine Baker. She was a world famous entertainer, WWII spy, and activist. #BlackHistoryMonth #illustration An illustration of Josephine Baker by Alleanna Harris
Freda Josephine McDonald was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1906. Her parents were both vaudeville performers, but Baker would have to take on odd jobs to help support her family. A black and white photo of Josephine Baker in the 20s
At the age of 15, she ran off and joined a dance troupe from Philadelphia. She also got married, took her husband’s last name, dropped her first name and started going by the name Josephine Baker.
Read 13 tweets
Feb 24, 2023
Today's Black History Month illustration is of Jane Bolin. She was the first Black woman to graduate from Yale Law School and the first Black woman judge in the United States. #blackhistorymonth #kidlitart An illustration of Jane Bol...
Jane Matilda Bolin was born in Poughkeepsie, NY in 1908. She was raised by her father, Gaius, a renowned Black attorney in Dutchess County, NY. Her mother, Matilda, a white Englishwoman, died when she was 8 years old. A black and white photo of ...
In 1924, Bolin attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts, one of two Black students in her class. They were excluded from social activities and because of racial discrimination, they had to find housing off campus.
Read 13 tweets

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