H.R.

That unified front made it clear that the very people who would later be stereotyped as white only were actually fighting for Black musicians to get a seat at the table.

And if you dig into early American hardcore in Washington, DC, Black members like HR and Earl Hudson not only played with brutal intensity, but they also served as mentors for younger Black youth who wanted to join bands like Minor Threat or Bad Brains themselves.

Now, let's touch on the business side.

Independent labels were often run by white people with no understanding of the Black experience.