The Black Arts Movement, or BAM as it is also known, was a movement curated by black poets, authors, dancers, musicians, and artists from approximately 1965-1975. The BAM is often overshadowed by the more commonly known social and political movement of the time, the Black Power Movement. BAM is, in a sense, the, "aesthetic and spiritual sister of the Black Power concept." Although both movements coincided and worked in conjunction with one another, BAM has often been referred to as a forgotten movement. The purpose of the BAM was to encourage the black community and other marginalized communities to embrace their heritage and culture. As an entity, it taught that assimilation is not necessary for living in the United States. The Black Arts Movement became a crucial part of the black community's growth post Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968.