Songs and Art of Protest

Materials Directions

• pens and pencils • For as long as they have known how to make art, people have used it to • journals unite and inspire each other in their attempts to improve their lives and • Song lyrics to change their communities, to make them fairer and more responsive • Access to Internet and to their rights and needs. Art brings people together, moves them device for viewing online emotionally, offers arguments against injustice, oppression, and war, and examples helps them remember to focus their energy on an issue worthy of it. • You may choose an activity from the SONGS section or the ART section. Choose one or do them all.

Activity

Songs

• You can find collections of protest songs online, such as:

oo https://www.radiox.co.uk/features/x-lists/best-protest-songs/

oo http://www.protestsonglyrics.net/Song-Lyrics-Categories.phtml

oo https://lyricstranslate.com/en/collection/songs-about-social-issues

oo https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2020/01/25/were-new-age-protest-music • You can also find a short collection of protest songs attached to this lesson, links on CLF's website at https://www.civicleadershipfoundation.org/remote-learning-links, and background and historical information on all these songs at www.wikipedia.org. • Choose a protest song that captures your attention and that seems to speak to you and for you. Then choose one of the activities below, or both.

Present a Song • How do songs convey their messages? Why is the song you chose meaningful to you? It may:

oo inspire or motivate you to be better in some way,

oo comment on an issue or problem that you care about, or

oo help you imagine and live, at least in your imagination, in a different, better world: the way the world should or could be. • Prepare a short report for your classmates and teacher, and/or friends and family, that a) introduces them to your song b) explains why they should listen to it carefully and c) helps them understand what they are listening to so they can learn from the song. You can submit a recording of an oral report or submit a written document. • Fill in your answers in the Present a Song worksheet to complete your report.

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Write a Song • Select a relevant current issue in your community and write a song about it. • One way to write song lyrics is to set them to a familiar melody. Of course, you may want to write your own melody. • If possible, record a performance of your song. Otherwise, submit the lyrics. If you’ve used an existing melody, please identify it.

Art

• In addition to musical protests, we come across protest messages in many different visual art forms:

oo Paintings, posters, and murals (Picasso’s “Guernica,” Diego Rivera’s murals, Banksy’s works).

oo Graffiti in the form of words: “Eat the rich”; “Kill your television”; “Vote for Nobody: Nobody keeps promises, Nobody cares, Nobody tells the truth,” and so on.

oo Images or verbal messages on walls or clothing: peace symbol; politically charged quotations, such as “I can’t breathe”; parodies of corporate slogans, such as “We don’t care. We don't have to. We’re Exxon”; the word “war” in the center of a circle with a red diagonal line crossing the circle. • Look at images online. Search for “protest art images” or get more specific by adding “paintings,” “murals,” “graffiti,” “t-shirts,” or whatever medium you are interested in. You can also watch videos of performance art and news footage of protest marches and rallies. • Here are some examples that are short and easy to find (go to https://www.civicleadershipfoundation. org/remote-learning-links for resources and examples):

oo Murals: Search “mural in Chicago images” or "murals as protest art” or a version of this.

oo Graffiti: Search for “graffiti protest art Chicago” to see images, including murals.

oo Street Theater: Visit CLF’s resource page for a video which shows a young woman singing in a train station about people killed by the police. See the Appendix for the lyrics.

oo Performance Art: Search for "On The Impossibility of Freedom in a Country Founded on Slavery and Genocide" by Dread Scott. The 2-minute video shows the artist, Dread Scott, walking forward into a torrent of water from a fire hose with his hands and arms out to represent the innocent victims of police shootings.

oo Videos of Protests: Search for videos such as ones that capture the 1968 Chicago convention police riot, or more recent demonstrations of various kinds (the Women’s March demonstrations, anti- abortion and pro-choice demonstrations, and so on). You may also look at documentaries about the Mothers of Playa de Mayo in Argentina who for 35 years demonstrated and protested against the murders of their sons, daughters, husbands, and fathers by the military dictatorship by dancing alone as if with their missing partners.

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Create Art • Use the following steps to create protest art about an issue you are familiar with and feel strongly about. Step 1: Think about community issues with which you are familiar. • For example, a community issue may be access, or lack of it, to health care facilities and equipment. Such facilities, which may be adequate in normal times, can become overwhelmed during a crisis, and will lack enough beds, doctors and nurses, protective gowns and masks, and other supplies to treat patients effectively.

Step 2: For each issue, think about how you would like to see the issue resolved. • Using the same example, we might want to resolve this issue by using social media to ask everyone to donate extra gloves or masks they may have in their homes. We might ask people to volunteer to look in on people who are disabled, elderly, or ill. We might ask people to send stories of hope and courage to someone who can collect these and publish them online.

Step 3: Think about what is preventing this resolution. • What is keeping the problem from being solved? Some reasons might include:

oo People may not be aware of the problem.

oo People may want to help but not know how.

oo People may be acting on inaccurate or outdated information. Step 4: Finally, think of a short, catchy protest message, or an image, that protests the lack of resolution for one issue. • Our protest messages might include one or more of the following (and you will surely produce more clever messages than these):

oo HELP!--each other!

oo Health Care is a Civil Right!

oo Your story makes everyone healthier!

• Now transfer the message or image to an artifact, such as a t-shirt, a poster, or a flyer. You can also record a performance piece. • Show your work to people in the neighborhood, friends, family members, teachers, or complete strangers, and ask them what they think, both about the issue and about the protest message or image. • Submit a short report to your teacher on the results of your exhibition, using the following prompts:

• What did people think about your protest these useful suggestions? art? Why? • Do you have ideas on whether and how to • Did anyone criticize your work or offer change your work? suggestions? What were they? Were

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Reflect

• In your journal, answer the following questions:

• What is the role of art, such as visual art, • Where do the values of compassion, dancing, drama, or storytelling, in your life wisdom, resilience, courage, or humility and the lives of your family and friends? show up in your songs or in other art that • Why is art important to so many people, is important to you? even though it doesn’t make them better- looking or put money in their pockets?

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Worksheet

1. Song Title

2. Artist’s Name

3. What is the theme of the song? Use this site for a list of possible themes: https://literarydevices.net/a- huge-list-of-common-themes/

4. What is the song about? What issue does it address? Think about what you know about this issue.

5. What are the images in the song? Are they images of hope or despair? Are they pleasant or unpleasant images? Are they images of suffering and injustice or of happy times and no worries?

6. What is the tone or mood of the song? Is the singer angry, sad, happy, hopeful, determined, in despair, frustrated, or some combination of these and other emotional expressions? How does the singer’s mood contribute to the song’s effects on listeners?

7. What is the music like? Is it fast or slow? Repetitive or wandering all over the place? Catchy or difficult to catch? How does it help convey the message of the song? What emotions does it appeal to?

8. What kinds of actions does your song inspire people to take? Think about the possible consequences of specific songs for people who want to address a certain issue. For example, do rap songs inspire people to behave badly or to work for change in their communities? Does country music make people want to move out of the city to a farm? Does Latin music make you want to learn Spanish? What about protest songs? Do they make you want to protest?

9. What values does the song communicate? Where in the song do you hear about compassion, wisdom, resilience, courage, humility, and so on? List some examples from the lyrics.

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“A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke

I was born by the river in a little tent And just like that river I've been running ever since It's been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die Cos I don't know what's out there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

I go to the movie And I go down town somebody keep telling me don't hang around Its been along time coming But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

Then I go to my brother And I say brother help me please But he winds up knockin' me Back down on my knees

There were times when I thought I couldn't last for long But now I think I'm able to carry on It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gone come, oh yes it will

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Protest Songs

Here is a short anthology of protest songs. All of these songs can heard on YouTube, Grooveshark, or other websites that allow users to choose specific song titles.

“Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday

Southern trees bear a strange fruit Blood on the leaves and blood at the root Black bodies swingin' in the Southern breeze Strange fruit hangin' from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South The bulgin' eyes and the twisted mouth Scent of magnolias sweet and fresh Then the sudden smell of burnin' flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop Here is a strange and bitter crop

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“Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley

Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! But you can't fool all the people all the time. Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! So now we see the light (What you gonna do?), Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! We gonna stand up for our rights! (Yeah, yeah, yeah!) Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight! So you better: Preacherman, don't tell me, Get up, stand up! (In the morning! Git it up!) Heaven is under the earth. Stand up for your rights! (Stand up for our rights!) I know you don't know Get up, stand up! What life is really worth. Don't give up the fight! (Don't give it up, don't give it It's not all that glitters is gold; up!) 'Alf the story has never been told: Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!) So now you see the light, eh! Stand up for your rights! (Get up, stand up!) Stand up for your rights. Come on! Get up, stand up! ( ... ) Don't give up the fight! (Get up, stand up!) Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up! ( ... ) Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight! Stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights! Get up, stand up! Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight! Don't give up the fight! [fadeout]

Most people think, Great God will come from the skies, Take away everything And make everybody feel high. But if you know what life is worth, You will look for yours on earth: And now you see the light, You stand up for your rights. Jah!

Get up, stand up! (Jah, Jah!) Stand up for your rights! (Oh-hoo!) Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!) Don't give up the fight! (Life is your right!) Get up, stand up! (So we can't give up the fight!) Stand up for your rights! (Lord, Lord!) Get up, stand up! (Keep on struggling on!) Don't give up the fight! (Yeah!)

We sick an' tired of-a your ism-skism game - Dyin' 'n' goin' to heaven in-a Jesus' name, Lord. We know when we understand: Almighty God is a living man. You can fool some people sometimes,

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“It’s Like That” by Run DMC

[Run] You should have gone to school, you could've learned Unemployment at a record highs a trade People coming, people going, people born to die But you laid in the bed where the bums have laid Don't ask me, because I don't know why Now all the time you're crying that you're underpaid But it's like that, and that's the way it is It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is Huh! [D.M.C.] People in the world tryin to make ends meet One thing I know is that life is short You try to ride car, train, bus, or feet So listen up homeboy, give this a thought I said you got to work hard, you want to compete The next time someone's teaching why don't you get It's like that, and that's the way it is taught? Huh! It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is

[Run & D.M.C. alternate lines for the remainder of the If you really think about it times aren't that bad song] The one that flexes with successes will make you Money is the key to end all your woes glad Your ups, your downs, your highs and your lows Stop playing start praying, you won't be sad Won't you tell me the last time that love bought you It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is clothes? Huh! It's like that, and that's the way it is When you feel you fail sometimes it hurts Bills rise higher every day For a meaning in life is why you search We receive much lower pay Take the bus or the train, drive to school or the church I'd rather stay young, go out and play It's like that, and that's the way it is It's like that, and that's the way it is Huh! Here's another point in life you should not miss Do not be a fool who's prejudiced Wars going on across the sea Because we're all written down on the same list Street soldiers killing the elderly It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is Whatever happened to unity? Huh! It's like that, and that's the way it is You know it's like that, and that's the way it is Disillusion is the word Because it's like that, and that's the way it is That's used by me when I'm not heard [Repeat these lines til fade] I just go through life with my glasses blurred It's like that, and that's the way it is Huh!

You can see a lot in this lifespan Like a bum eating out of a garbage can You noticed one time he was your man It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is

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“Riotstarted” by Public Enemy (feat. Tom Morello & Henry Rollins) (2012)

Mind over matter - mouth in motion They started a riot Can't defy cause I'll never be quiet They started a riot Mind revolution - our solution Mind over matter - mouth in motion Spent a buck in the 90's - whatcha you got is a Corners don't sell it - no you can't buy it preacher Defy cause I'll never be quiet Forgivin' this torture of the system that brought 'cha They started a riot I'm on a mission and you got that right Addin' fuel to the fire - punch to the fight Our solution - mind revolution Many have forgotten what we came here for Can't sell it - no you can't buy it in a potion Never knew or had a clue - so you're on the floor You lie about the life that you wanted to try Just growin not knowin about your past Tellin' me about a head - you decided to fly Now you're lookin' pretty stupid while you're shakin' Another brother with the same woes that you face your ass But you shot with the same hands - you fall from grace Mind over matter - mouth in motion Every brother should be every brother's keeper Can't defy cause I'll never be quiet But you shot with your left while your right was on They started a riot your beeper

Some people fear me when I talk this way Mind over matter - mouth in motion Some come near me - some run away Can't defy cause I'll never be quiet Some people take heed to every word I say They started a riot Some wanna build a posse - some stay away Some people think that we plan to fail As the world turns - it's a terrible waste Wonder why we go under or we go to jail To see the stupid look stuck on your face Some ask us why we act the way we act Timebomb alarm for the world - just try it Without lookin' how long they kept us back Known to all zones as the one man riot I'm on a mission to set you straight Mind over matter - mouth in motion Children - it's not too late Can't defy cause I'll never be quiet Explain to the world when it's plain to see They started a riot To be what the world doesn't want us to be

Yes you if I bore you - I won't ignore you Mind over matter - mouth in motion I'm sayin things that they say I'm not supposed to Can't defy cause I'll never be quiet Give you pride that you may not find They started a riot If you're blind about your past then I'll point behind Kings, queens, warriors, lovers People proud - sisters and brothers Their biggest fear - suckers get tears When we can top their best idea

Mind over matter - mouth in motion Can't defy cause I'll never be quiet

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Civil Rights Songs

FYI Visit CLF’s Remote Learning Links page for videos of civil rights songs accompanied photographs, background information on “We Shall Overcome,” and more. https://civicleadershipfoundation. org/remote-learning-links

“We Shall Overcome” We shall overcome, we shall overcome, We shall overcome someday; We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall live in peace someday; We shall overcome someday. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall live in peace someday. The Lord will see us through, The Lord will see us through, The Lord will see us through someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall overcome someday.

We're on to victory, We're on to victory, We're on to victory someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We're on to victory someday.

We'll walk hand in hand, we'll walk hand in hand, We'll walk hand in hand someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We'll walk hand in hand someday.

We are not afraid, we are not afraid, We are not afraid today; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We are not afraid today.

The truth shall make us free, the truth shall make us free, The truth shall make us free someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, The truth shall make us free someday.

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“Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” Traditional

Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around, Turn me round, turn me round, Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around, I just keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin', Marching on to freedom land.

Ain't gonna let nobody turn me round,Lord, Turn me round, turn me round, Ain't gonna let nobody turn me round, I just keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin', Marching up on freedom land.

Ain't gonna let no jailhouse turn me round, Turn me round, turn me round, Ain't gonna let no jailhouse turn me round, Oh, I, keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin', Marching on to freedom land.

I can't let segregation turn me round, Turn me round, turn me round, Ain't gonna let segregation turn me round, I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin', Marching on to freedom land.

Ain't gonna let no dogs, Lord, turn me round, Turn me round, turn me round, Ain't gonna let no dogs, Lord,turn me round, I'm gonna keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin', Marching on to freedom land.

Ain't gonna let nobody turn me round, Turn me round, turn me round, Ain't gonna let nobody turn me round, I just keep on a-walkin', keep on a-talkin', Marching on to freedom land.

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Anti-War Songs

FYI This song was made famous at Woodstock. It was easy to remember and sing along, a key factor in people’s ability to hear its message. It also uses humor and sarcasm to get its message across.

“Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die” by Country Joe McDonald Come on all of you big strong men Uncle Sam needs your help again Come on mothers throughout the land he's got himself in a terrible jam pack your boys off to Viet Nam way down yonder in Viet Nam so come on fathers don't hesitate put down your books and pick up a gun we're send your sons off before it's too late gonna have a whole lotta fun and you can be the first ones on your block to have your boy come home in a box And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for don't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop is Viet Nam And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die

Come on Wall Street don't be slow why man this war is a go-go there's plenty good money to be made by supplying the army with the tools of its trade let's hope and pray that if they drop the bomb, they drop it on the Viet Cong

Come on generals, let's move fast your big chance has come at last now you can go out and get those reds ‘cos the only good commie is the one that's dead and you know that peace can only be won when we've blown 'em all to kingdom come

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FYI Many will be familiar with this song because originally sung by Starr managed to convey Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker sing it together anger, sadness, frustration, and urgency at the in the movie “Rush Hour.” This song as injustice and insanity of war.

“War” by Edwin Starr

War, huh, yeah It's an enemy to all mankind Made him disabled, bitter and mean What is it good for The point of war blows my mind Life is much too short and precious Absolutely nothing To spend fighting wars these days Uh-huh War has caused unrest War can't give life War, huh, yeah Within the younger generation It can only take it away What is it good for Induction then destruction Absolutely nothing Who wants to die Ooooh, war, huh Say it again, y'all Good God y'all Aaaaah, war-huh What is it good for War, huh, good God Good God y'all Absolutely nothing What is it good for What is it good for Say it again Absolutely nothing Absolutely nothing Listen to me Say it, say it, say it War, whoa, Lord War, huh What is it good for Ohhh, war, I despise What is it good for Absolutely nothing Because it means destruction Absolutely nothing Listen to me Of innocent lives Listen to me War, it ain't nothing but a War means tears War, huh, yeah heartbreaker To thousands of mothers eyes What is it good for War, friend only to the undertaker When their sons go to fight Absolutely nothing Peace, love and understanding And lose their lives Uh-huh Tell me, is there no place for them War, huh, yeah today I said, war, huh What is it good for They say we must fight to keep our Good God, y'all Absolutely nothing freedom What is it good for Say it again y'all But Lord knows there's got to be a Absolutely nothing better way Say it again War, huh, good God What is it good for Ooooooh, war, huh War, whoa, Lord Absolutely nothing Good God y'all What is it good for Listen to me What is it good for Absolutely nothing You tell me Listen to me War, it ain't nothing but a Say it, say it, say it, say it heartbreaker War, huh War, it ain't nothing War, it's got one friend Good God y'all But a heartbreaker That's the undertaker What is it good for War, friend only to the undertaker Ooooh, war, has shattered Stand up and shout it Ooooh, war Many a young mans dreams Nothing

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FYI In this song of the Great Depression, the The song reminds us that hard times are speaker recounts his experience as a soldier nothing new, that returning veterans can end in World War I and as a worker building the up in the discard pile of workers, and that we machines and infrastructure that allow the have ethical obligations to help each other, as country to function, but he recounts these we ourselves may need help from others who experiences as an argument for receiving are not inclined to help, either because of their assistance. Just as he has contributed to the attitudes toward the poor or because they are former prosperity of the country through his unable to help due to their own hardships, service and labor, now he is asking the country which would certainly be the case of many to help him. people in the Great Depression.

“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” Lyrics by Yip Harburg, Music by Jay Gorney (1931)

They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you followed the mob, spare a dime? When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job. Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, They used to tell me I was building a dream, with Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum, peace and glory ahead, Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for And I was the kid with the drum! bread? Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race all the time. against time. Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime? spare a dime? Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime; Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum, Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.

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