Sly and the Family Stone: A very sly band indeed

        Personally, it isn't my cup of tea. The sound is a little too funky and soulful for my taste. But saying that, I think there are multiple reasons that make this band a really great and inspirational band.
        As we said in class, they were technically the first multi-racial rock band. This was a huge movement at the time, considering that their albums were released during the late 60's and early 70's. This band, I would think, would be a huge symbol of hope to the colored people of the United States at the time. It showed them that white and color can work together and neither is better than the other. Plus, the beliefs of the band shined brightly through their music. Many of their songs revolved around inspirational messages of hope and determination. These themes and ideas were especially apparent on their album Stand! which was released in 1969. Songs on the album such as "Stand!," "You Can Make it If You Try," and "Everybody's People," really show the bands opinion on the political dificulties that the United States was facing at this time. Though, it makes me wonder (Ha, Stairway to Heaven reference) that if this band was releasing these motivational messages that went against the laws of the country if the government at all felt threatened to destroy them as a band. You hear and read about dystopian books where the people make a rebellious movement and the government immediately feels threaten and executes all of the suspects that had anything to do with the rebellion. The most recent book being "The Hunger Games." I do realized that these are fictitious stories and that they are not true, but I wonder if the government at all felt threatened by this band. Maybe it caused some concern that this would spur a rebellion. I am also aware that there were many rebellions against the laws of discrimination, regardless of them having anything to do with this band. I just begin to question if such messages from a popular, well-known band, would be of any worry to the government.
         I kind of went off-topic a little bit, but overall I think this band impacted the political and cultural aspects of this time period.