Music and activism have a long history together. Songs tell stories, inspire hope, and empower change. Folk and gospel music played important roles during the American Civil Rights movement while the activism of modern bands like Pussy Riot is more famous than their music. Racism is a common topic for musicians. Through music, these artists raise awareness of racism, share their personal experiences and feelings, and advocate for change. Here are 15 powerful songs calling for an end to racism:<\/p>\n
Written by: Abel Meeropol | Performed by: Billie Holiday<\/p>\n
First recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939, this haunting song was inspired by a photograph of a 1930 lynching where bodies hung like fruit from trees. The lynchings of Black people were common at that time. Horrified by these murders, Jewish-American writer, teacher, and songwriter Abel Meeropol<\/a> (under his pseudonym Lewis Allan) wrote the lyrics as a poem and later added music. Without ever mentioning the word \u201clynching,\u201d Meeropol\u2019s song is still painfully clear and moving. The song has been covered by many artists, including Nina Simone in 1965 during the Civil Rights movement.<\/p>\n Written and performed by: Bob Marley<\/p>\n Arguably Bob Marley\u2019s most famous song, \u201cRedemption Song\u201d<\/a> is an anthem that addresses slavery and freedom. One of its most famous lines \u201cEmancipate yourself from mental slavery\u201d was taken from a 1937 speech by Marcus Garvey, a philosopher, activist, and Black nationalist born in Jamaica. Adding to its poignancy is the fact that Bob Marley was ill with cancer when he recorded the song. The singer is reflecting on his own death and legacy. Many versions and covers have been recorded, but Bob Marley\u2019s acoustic track remains among the most enduring.<\/p>\n Written by: Rob Hirst\/Jim Moginie\/Peter Garrett | Performed by: Midnight Oil<\/p>\n This catchy song, which was the band\u2019s only commercial worldwide hit, deals with land theft from the Indigenous people of Australia. Midnight Oil had a history of social justice music and after touring in remote Aboriginal communities, they wrote an album focused on land rights and what white Australians had done to Indigenous communities. \u201cBurning Are Burning\u201d<\/a> became a global sensation.<\/p>\n Written and performed by: Tracy Chapman<\/p>\n Tracy Chapman is best known for her song \u201cFast Car,\u201d but she\u2019s continued writing and recording over the years. Her song \u201cAmerica,\u201d<\/a> which was released in 2005, is a striking indictment of the colonizers who arrived on American shores and the legacy that continues. \u201cThe ghost of Columbus haunts this world,\u201d Chapman sings, \u201cCause you\u2019re still conquering America.\u201d<\/p>\n Written by: Barry Mann\/Cynthia Weil\/Brenda Russell | Performed by: Solomon Burke<\/p>\n Written in 1993 and first performed by Ray Charles, Solomon Burke\u2019s version of \u201cNone Of Us Are Free\u201d <\/a>in 2002 received more attention. Solomon Burke, who is considered a major figure in soul and R&B music, performed the song often toward the end of his life. Its lyrics call for a collective understanding of humanity and that while there are still people oppressed and in pain, none of us are truly free.<\/p>\n Written by: Mark Bryan\/Darius Rucker\/Jim Sonefeld | Performed by: Hootie & The Blowfish<\/p>\n \u201cDrowning\u201d was the last single from Hootie & The Blowfish\u2019s debut album. In contrast to the band\u2019s upbeat singles, \u201cDrowning\u201d is more serious and addresses racism, specifically the Confederate flags that flew at the South Carolina State House. The band is from South Carolina, so this song is very personal to its members. Despite protests regarding the Confederate flag\u2019s prominent place, it would be another 20 years before it officially came down. One of the most famous protests took place in June 2015, when Bree Newsome scaled the flag pole and took down the flag<\/a>. Not long after, the flag was officially removed.<\/p>\n Written and performed by: Lizzie No<\/p>\n Folk singer Lizzie No released this song in 2017 in response to police brutality. In an interview about the song<\/a>, the artist says Maya Angelou\u2019s \u201cI Know Why The Caged Bird Sings\u201d and its descriptions of survival and everyday violence inspired her. With a backdrop of acoustic guitar, No compares the normality of police brutality to seasons, which come and go in a routine. \u201cThe Killing Season\u201d captures No\u2019s grief at this cruel reality.<\/p>\n Written and performed by: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit<\/p>\n In this song from 2017, singer-songwriter Jason Isbell faces his privilege<\/a> head on. He takes a hard look at the world, seeing how being white and male gives him more privileges and opportunities than women and people of color. He describes struggling with hopelessness, but still having faith when he looks at \u201cthe fire in my little girl\u2019s eyes.\u201d Many songs about racism come from those who are enduring it, but Isbell confronts white, male privilege and encourages others like him to do the same.<\/p>\n Written by: Uncle Reece\/Wyclef Jean\/MC Jin | Performed by: MC Jin feat. Wyclef Jean<\/p>\n In 2020 and 2021, anti-Asian hate crimes increased. New York City became an especially dangerous place for harassment and violence. During a protest, rapper MC Jin\u2019s son shouted \u201cStop the hatred!\u201d<\/a> This became the name of MC Jin\u2019s 2021 song, which features Wyclef Jean. MC Jin describes being afraid when his parents leave the house, as well as relief that his grandmother has already passed and won\u2019t have to deal with violence. \u201cStop the hatred,\u201d MC Jin cries. \u201cRain love on me.\u201d<\/p>\n Written and performed by: Raye Zaragoza<\/p>\n One of music\u2019s most exciting rising artists, Raye Zaragoza has written many songs dealing with social justice issues. \u201cRed\u201d is one of the most moving and challenging. It draws attention<\/a> to the high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women. According to studies, 4 out of 5 Indigenous women experience violence in their lifetimes. \u201cThey\u2019ve been finding your sisters in the red river,\u201d Zaragoza sings, \u201cIn the red river.\u201d<\/p>\n Written by: Ben Joyce\/Dylan Mills\/Guy Bonnet\/Jorja Smith\/Nicholas Detnon\/Roland Romanelli | Performed by: Jorja Smith<\/p>\n Jorja Smith, a young singer-songwriter from Great Britain, explores discrimination and police brutality in this 2016 song. The music video features men and boys – including her own father – from Smith\u2019s home of Birmingham and Walsall. Smith intended to show that stereotypes are \u201cmisleading and, ultimately, harmful.\u201d<\/a> Smith sings, \u201cIf you\u2019ve done nothing wrong, blue lights should just pass you by,\u201d but because of racism, police target Black men and boys for simply doing the normal activities shown in the music video.<\/p>\n Written by: John Flansburgh\/John Linnel | Performed by: They Might Be Giants<\/p>\n While currently famous for their children\u2019s music, They Might Be Giants has deep roots in modern alternative rock. Released back in 1990, \u201cYour Racist Friend\u201d<\/a> challenges racists and the people who stand there quietly tolerating it. \u201cThis is where the party ends,\u201d the band says, \u201cI\u2019ll just sit here wondering how you can stand by your racist friend.\u201d This is a great addition to the catalog of anti-racist songs as it deals with the kind of \u201charmless,\u201d everyday racism people encounter all the time. Instead of letting it slide, They Might Be Giants encourages people to \u201cend the party.\u201d<\/p>\n Written by: Emma Davidson Dillon\/Fraser Churchill\/Mickey Guyton\/Nathan Chapman | Performed by: Mickey Guyton<\/p>\n American country artist Mickey Guyton has been in the business for years, but her breakthrough came in 2020 when she released \u201cBlack Like Me.<\/a>\u201d The song describes her experiences growing up as a young Black girl and realizing that America wasn\u2019t equal. \u201cIf you think we live in the land of the free,\u201d she sings, \u201cThen you should try to be Black like me.\u201d The song earned Guyton her first nomination at the Grammy Awards. She was also the first Black woman nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance category.<\/p>\n Written by: Daniel Dwosu Jr. | Performed by: Dax<\/p>\n#2. \u201cRedemption Song\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#3. \u201cBeds Are Burning\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n
#4. \u201cAmerica\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#5. \u201cNone of Us Are Free\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n
#6. \u201cDrowning\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n
#7. \u201cThe Killing Season\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#8. \u201cWhite Man\u2019s World\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#9. \u201cStop the Hatred\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#10. \u201cRed\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#11. \u201cBlue Lights\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#12. \u201cYour Racist Friend\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#13. \u201cBlack Like Me\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n
#14. \u201cBlack Lives Matter\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n