solved Motown was often criticized for not being “black enough,” especially

Motown was often criticized for not being “black enough,” especially as compared to southern soul. What was the basis for such an argument? What could be a possible counterargument? Clearly the primary subject matter for Motown was love songs. Controversial subjects like the Vietnam War, police brutality, civil rights and racismwere definitely avoided. Finally in 1968, the Supremes released Love Child. And then Marvin Gaye’s 1970What’s Goin On set the bar for protest music from Motown. Famously, Motown CEO Berry Gordy initiallyrefused to release the song saying “it doesn’t sound like a Motown song.Getting Started Motown self-consciously sought a “refined” sound and image. At a time when celebration of racial identity was one strategy to combat racism, Motown’s refinement seemed to cater directly to white ideas and values. Conversely, southern soul’s sound and image were understood as more authentic expressions of the African American experience. One possible counterargument could be that Barry Gordy was seeking to bridge the gap between white and black audiences, and as pointed out in the chapter, African American audiences were also major consumers of Motown music.