Origins of Disco
Disco’s originated as a musical protest. It began in the Black and queer community as a music of activism and rebellion. Thus, it was more than just a sound of music, it was a social scene with an associated style that became a Black and queer source of identity, empowerment, and liberation.
During the ‘60s and ‘70s, New York City was facing an economic recession. The city went through budget shortfalls, and there was an increase in crime rates. They cut budgets for police officers, leading to an increase in violent crime. Despite these issues New Yorkers faced in the ‘70s and ‘80s, these struggles led to the creation of disco and its popularity.
Disco gave Black people a political voice at a time of disempowerment. Even though they were going through a time of sky-high unemployment, disco was able to help them to make money due to the popularity it got. They were able to survive this economical hardship.
After the release of Saturday Night Fever (1978), a disco film, this genre started gaining its popularity. In a paper from Violet Butler, she mentions how “Disco was a Black music genre that became an economic powerhouse, crossing over to dominate mainstream airwaves.” When disco became mainstream, it became a cultural movement of music, dance, fashion, and style.
