Our Minds Were Always Free: A History of How Black Brilliance Was Exploited—And the Fight to Retake Control

An exploration of how African American innovators and artists—whose impact and financial value in American music, film, and television far exceed their numbers—have fought for, and often won, the rights to own and benefit from their work.

When we think about the barriers to success for African Americans, intellectual property law is rarely the first thing that comes to mind—if it comes to mind at all. We seldom consider it as a pathway to building generational wealth in the Black community, and we rarely view our favorite pop stars as revolutionary figures in that struggle.

Yet African American artists have, at last, begun to claim ownership of their art and share in the wealth it generates—after centuries of producing culture-shaping work. There were countless “Bessie Smiths” before the world ever saw artists like Beyoncé or Kendrick Lamar.

Lisa E. Davis, one of the nation’s foremost entertainment attorneys, traces this extraordinary journey—from a time when Black people were treated as property to an era in which they increasingly claim the rights to their intellectual property. As she writes, “Under slavery, our minds were always free, but there was no profit from what our minds created.”

Spanning from the 18th century and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution to the 21st century’s digital landscape, Our Minds Were Always Free tells the story of Black American creativity and the ongoing fight to receive both recognition and compensation.

Praise for Our Minds Were Always Free:

“Our Minds Were Always Free is a treatise on Black genius, a masterclass in intellectual property, and a history lesson on the intersection of creativity, capitalism, and cultural exploitation. This should be required reading for every Black artist and creative.” —Michael Harriot, New York Times bestselling author of Black AF History

“Lisa E. Davis has spent her career digging into the underbelly of intellectual property and cleaning up the mess. Her work champions clarity—from analog roots to digital dominance. An unheralded force for over a quarter century, she’s helped reshape the game. Her legacy is sealed with Our Minds Were Always Free, cutting through cultural confusion to reveal how so many millions were lost in the heat of the ‘so-called beat.’” —Chuck D, Public Enemy

“In Our Minds Were Always Free, Lisa brilliantly captures the plunder of Black artistic and intellectual virtuosity, and the boundless creative elasticity necessary to persevere through it all—and still be exceptional.” —Damon Young, author of What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker