What was Motown and why was it influential in bringing African Americans to the limelight? (short answer)

Motown Records was an American record label originally founded by Berry Gordy in 1959. Its importance stems from their support to exclusively African American artists (musicians) such as Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Mary Wells, The Supremes, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, and many others, as well as from the popularization of funk as a genre.

Motown was a musical label (recording company) founded by Berry Gordy in Detroit in the 1950s. Gordy's artists included The Temptations, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, The Supremes, and many more. It became the defining sound for R&B and Soul during the Civil Rights Movement up to the present day.