James Brown in Vietnam.

Kevin Ma
RockHistoryS’21
Published in
2 min readMay 6, 2021
Long Binh, Vietnam 1968

James Brown has been known throughout the world as one of the greatest artists of all time. The godfather of soul, his performances uplifted peoples spirits. His vocals encapsulated the essence of soul, the blues, and rock n roll. His influence would go down in history, positively changing a generation of people.

During the 60s rises in racial tension continued to erupt as more individuals began to get educated on the ethics of racism. New moral views were introduced, cultural exchange occurred, and important leaders began to emerge.

On top of the on going civil rights movements, America was at war with Vietnam, a war that they were losing. The soldiers were facing unprecedented guerilla warfare, with many of whom experiencing the depressing atmosphere that war was.

James Brown was a crucial aspect towards boosting morale, acting as a mediator between the different races within America, as well as the troops deployed in Vietnam. With his arrival, the eagerly waiting fans chanted and shouted as he performed. His performance helped alleviate the pain felt during that time, even if for just a few minutes. He was instrumental at helping mitigate the tension between the different races, with his music acting as a common ground between all walks of life.

His legacy would go down in history, helping influence many peoples perspective on racial tensions. His performances lead to innumerable amounts of people to seek changes to society. With his music acting as a prime example of how race doesn’t determine a mans worth. The essence of his work has always been to bring out positivity and with his performances he has left a mark on American history.

The artwork that he created inspired numerous people to start their own music careers. His upbeat attitude made people gravitate towards him, and with his performance in Vietnam, troops felt at ease. Distracting them from the terrors of war, James Brown single handily helped shift the attention of troops towards more positive outlooks.

Music is a powerful tool that can be used to express oneself, to inspire, and to change the emotions of people. James Browns act of kindness helped showcase just how powerful music can be. With his short 3 day stay within Vietnam, soldiers were given the opportunity to witness and listen to Mr. Browns powerful vocals. A sound that would resonate within the soul, his music went down in history providing a safe haven for happiness.

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