Sounds of Blackness are a group from Minnesota that were formed in 1969 by Russell Knighton, and taken over by Gary Hines in 1971. They have won multiple awards including three Grammys and four Stellar Awards (specifically for gospel music). "Optomistic" was released in 1991 and is one of their biggest hits, reaching number 3 in the US R&B/Hip hop charts.
August Greene - "Optomistic" (2018)
Ideas for discussion questions:.
Why would a band call themselves 'Sounds of Blackness'
When this song was written, who do you think Sounds of Blackness meant it to be for?
Who do you think the August Greene version for?
What does what Sounds of Blackness are wearing tell you about them?
What are the differences between the original and cover versions?
(August Greene) What do you think about the ending of the video (from 4:38)?