Pandemic Playlist: Top 5 protest anthems that address racial bias and police brutality in the US
The world is on edge thanks to an ongoing pandemic. Many are beginning to question those in leadership roles due to their perceived failures are addressing the issue all as we become increasingly aware of how overworked, understaffed, and underequipped our healthcare systems currently are. We thought the world would be different when we emerged from our quarantine cocoons, but sadly we are reminded today that some issues do not just disappear because we started washing our hands more often and wearing face masks. The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Regis Korchinski-Paquet, who was allegedly pushed off a balcony by police and fell 24 floors to her death, have once again reignited the debate around how often black people are murdered by those in law enforcement. For people from these communities, the debate is their daily life. And today they once more air out their grievances via the Black Lives Matter movement, demanding to know when the killing will end.
What makes this situation even more gut-wrenching is the realization that even amid a pandemic, issues like immigration, racial violence, gender-based violence, and the rights of LGBTQIA++ and other marginalized communities, among others, continue to plague the most vulnerable sections of society. And with people in these communities being disproportionately affected by Covid-19, this reality is even harsher. It's no wonder artistes have chosen to tackle these issues via protest music in recent years. After all, when so much happens all at once, it can be overwhelmingly difficult to articulate what you want to say. And so, in honor of the lives lost and the movement that works tirelessly to bring the victims and their families justice in addition to securing a better future for black children everywhere, here are five songs that address issues of police brutality against black people in the USA.
Childish Gambino - 'This Is America'
As one of the most iconic BLM songs, Gambino's Grammy-winning 2018 song 'This Is America' details how black lives and culture have been commodified and are often capitalized on, all while black people continue to be murdered in cold blood. Musically, the song is drenched in black culture and includes everything from hip hop, trap, and rap to gospel-style choir and African folk music. It includes contributions from notable American rappers like Young Thug, Slim Jxmmi, BlocBoy JB, 21 Savage, and Quavo who each deliver an ad-lib.
It was the song's music video, which features a cameo from SZA, that really had people talking. Directed by Japanese-American filmmaker Hiro Murai, the video features various instances of pop-culture hailing from black communities, including viral dances performed by young black children, set against the backdrop of violence against black people including references to the Jim Crow era, the 2015 Charleston church shooting, and the shooting of black people like Philando Castile at traffic stops. Right from the first moment to the end, this video is filled to the brim with references to black culture and America's willingness to place many things, including their capitalist ideals and gun laws, over the lives of black people.
The video ends with Gambino running away from a group of white people, utterly terrified. Some liken the scene to the 2017 film 'Get Out', but it can just as easily be seen as a representation of what black people, from Emmett Till to the many victims of the Ku Klux Klan, have had to deal with over the decades. In addition to 'This Is America', Gambino also put out a sonically and visually stunning piece with 'Feels Like Summer' which looks at the toll racial bias takes on black communities, giving people a glimpse into what is truly lost when black people are constantly under siege.
Lauryn Hill - 'Black Rage (Sketch)'
Hill has been extremely vocal about the issues, particularly violence and police brutality, that impact the black community. 'Black Rage' is a reworking of 'My Favorite Things' from the soundtrack to 'The Sound of Music' and is built on the notion that hate often causes people to spiral into very dark places. Though Hill had performed the songs for years prior, documenting the pain of the African American community over the years, she found herself compelled to rework the song in the wake of the murder of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old who was fatally shot by 28-year-old white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in 2014. In a tweet, Hill shared the reworked track along with the message, "An old sketch of Black Rage, done in my living room. Strange, the course of things. Peace for MO."
Listen to 'Black Rage' HERE.
Vic Mensa - '16 Shots'
With the title '16 Shots' being a direct reference to how many bullets struck Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old African American was fatally shot by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014, this song makes no secret of its message. Chicago saw protests erupt following the shooting that would continue on well into the next year. Mensa participated in the 2015 protests, eventually releasing '16 Shots' as part of his 2016 album 'There's Alot Going On'. The song addresses variety of issues plaguing the black community as a result of police brutality and lack of accountability. Speaking in a Reddit AMA, Mensa said, "I think as citizens we have to be able to elect officials that prosecute police officers for their crimes. No more letting them judge themselves. They are dishonest and hold their code of blue over everything. Also have to stop militarizing the police. and stop paying settlements to families of their victims out of tax dollars. Those settlements need to come from their own pockets and zero their pensions if they use wrongful force. Need laws on use of force. Invest in black communities. Increase police sensitivity training. Make them study longer to become officers. Takes longer to become a licensed barber than an officer. We end up with sub par police to say the least."
Janelle Monae - 'Hell You Talmbout'
This nearly seven-minute-long protest anthem features members of Monae's Wondaland Arts Society collective shouting the names of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, and more, in addition to repeatedly shouting "Say his name!" or "Say her name!" with over a drum beat. Speaking about the track, Monae had stated in a since-deleted Instagram post, "This song is a vessel. It carries the unbearable anguish of millions. We recorded it to channel the pain, fear and trauma caused by the ongoing slaughter of our brothers and sisters. We recorded it to challenge the indifference, disregard and negligence of all who remain quiet about this issue. Silence is our enemy. Sound is our weapon. They say a question lives forever until it gets the answer it deserves…Won't you say their names?" The song also features the lyric, "Emmett Till, say his name! / Emmett Till, won't you say his name?" in reference to the lynching of a 14-year-old African American after he was falsely accused of sexually harassing a white woman while shopping at her family's grocery store.
No stranger to protest music, Monae also dropped 'Americans' as part of their critically-acclaimed 2018 album 'Dirty Computer' on which they took more direct shots at USA's racist traditions. Listen to 'Hell You Talmbout' HERE.
Beyonce feat Kendrick Lamar - 'Freedom'
While Beyonce's earlier years featured songs around popular themes like romance and fun nights out with the girls, she has spent the recent years in her career making increasingly political statements through her music and her actions. When she dropped 'Formation', it was pretty clear the singer was no longer dancing around the issues plaguing black communities. She took a firm stance with imagery of her atop a sinking car in New Orleans and a young black boy with his hands up as a whole squad of cops aim their guns at him, as well as her Super Bowl performance during which she was surrounded by her group of dancers all dressed in Black Panther uniforms.
With 'Freedom', however, Beyonce took her activism to even greater heights: she released a black and white clip along with the track featuring the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown, all holding pictures of their sons. The deaths of these men at the hands of police offices launched the BLM movement that continues to fight for justice. Following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Beyonce wrote on her official site, "It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they 'stop killing us'." Her homepage currently has an image of Floyd displayed along with the caption, "Rest in Power George Floyd."
Pandemic Playlist is a daily list of songs that will keep you entertained instead of feeling drained while you're isolated at home. Look out for a fresh selection of great tunes from MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) to refresh your mood every day.