Elizabeth Hays, a white woman from central North Carolina, had never been to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. But earlier this month, after she read about Donald Trump’s executive order targeting the museum and others throughout the Smithsonian system, she made the nearly five-hour drive up to Washington, D.C., to visit. She was worried that if she waited any longer, she might encounter a sanitized version of the museum, or no museum at all.

The president has grown more impulsive, more vindictive, and more anarchic

Roy Ayers, the vibraphonist, composer, and all-around musical genius, left an indelible mark on the world of jazz-funk, soul, and R&B. His music, with its hypnotic grooves and rich instrumentation, defined an era and transcended generations. Ayers’ impact didn’t stop at jazz-funk—his rhythms, melodies, and unmistakable style heavily influenced hip-hop and R&B musicians over the years.