I wanted to write a protest song about racism in the United States, in solidarity with the protests in Ferguson and across the country and #BlackLivesMatter. But I also wanted to be conscientious about the fact that I am a white male, and to be thoughtful about balancing my own desire to speak out with the need to let others’ voices be heard. I went ahead and wrote this song, but it ended up being more about white privilege and what it means for white people to be in solidarity or be a part of this struggle. That’s a lot to try to fit into a 3-minute piece of folk music. I’m not sure whether Ive finished it or not. I’m not sure if it works, musically, lyrically, or politically, or whether it matters. But it does seem timely, so I wanted to put it out there in the world rather than struggle with it by myself any more. I would love to hear what my friends think, from songwriters to activists. I would love to hear your feedback on this song, if you have a few minutes to listen to it. I would love to hear your thoughts on protest songs, on white solidarity, and the potential for political action through music in general and in the current struggle. What do you think? #BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 21:37:58 +0000
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