In Like Lockdown Never Happened, Joy White explores the profound impact of Black music and culture during the pandemic, revealing how it became a beacon of resilience and connection in a socially distanced world. From the explosion of online events to groundbreaking creative expressions, the book highlights the cultural moments that defined this era, such as Kano’s Newham Talks, Steve McQueen’s BBC anthology Small Axe, the Verzuz DJ Battle series, TikTok’s Don’t Rush Challenge, and the rise of radio station TheresNoSignal.
The book delves into how Black joy and sonic Black geographies played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural narrative of the pandemic. By examining the interplay of chronological and kairotic time, it underscores the role of Black music in combating isolation and boredom while offering insights into the power of Black creativity to sustain communities through unprecedented challenges. Rich in analysis and cultural depth, Like Lockdown Never Happened is essential reading for anyone interested in music, culture, and how art helps us navigate crisis.
Joy White is Lecturer in Applied Social Studies at the University of Bedfordshire and the author of Urban Music and Entrepreneurship: Beats, Rhymes and Young People’s Enterprise and Terraformed: Young Black Lives in the Inner-City. She has also written for The Quietus, The Conversation, Prospect, Red Pepper and Google Arts & Culture.