How Socially Conscious Art and Music Can Spread Anti-Racism
October 2023
Art and music have long been powerful media for social change. They can challenge the status quo, inspire empathy, and even catalyze movements. One of the most impactful things socially conscious music and art forms can do is to promote anti-racism. Here’s how various forms and genres, particularly rap and hip hop, can be instrumental in spreading anti-racist messages.
Art as a Medium for Anti-Racism
Art offers plenty of potent media for anti-racist messaging and dialogues. In fact, in the current era of inflamed sociopolitical divisiveness in the US, art has the potential to be more effective at engaging audiences with anti-racist ideas than news media or school curricula. That may be because it requires viewers to actively explore and experience each work and hunt for meaning themselves rather than simply being the passive recipient of rhetoric that has already been digested for them.
Visual artists like Kara Walker, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and many others have explored themes of race, identity, and systemic oppression in their collections. Their works often serve as both a critique of historical and contemporary racism and a call to action.
Music as a Powerful Anti-Racist Art Form
The Role of Rap and Hip-Hop
Rap and hip hop have a rich history of tackling social issues, including racism, from 1982 to the present day. In fact, August 11, 2023, marks the official 50th anniversary of these genres. Influential artists like KRS-One and Chuck D, whose careers became prominent in the mid-1980s, challenged their listeners to learn about Black history, understand why systemic racism and related forms of injustice exist, and work to end violence in Black communities.
Unfortunately, since that era, the focus of rap and hip hop have largely changed from concern over social issues to glamor-seeking mindsets and lifestyles, as seen with the emergence of party and gangsta rap. This has included marked use of misogynist or sexist ideas, lyrics, and images as well.
Nonetheless, some artists have returned to social justice themes in contemporary times, particularly during and following the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Socially conscious rappers like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Joey Bada$$ have albums that delve into themes of racial inequality, black identity, and systemic oppression.
Joey Bada$$'s album ALL AMERIKKKAN BADA$$, for example, wrestles with themes like police brutality and white supremacy, making it one of the most outspoken records of 2017. In general, NPR notes, the best hip hop albums across the year reflected America's politics of race, space, and place.
It stands to reason that one of the best ways to eradicate racism is to do so among younger generations. Studies show that socially conscious hip hop can be an especially effective educational tool for white teens, as the genre has been a major cultural force since it entered mainstream music. Although they can’t be a silver bullet and come with their own complications with regard to social justice, rap and hip hop music are well-adapted for confrontational messaging and enjoy wide popularity.
Other Examples of Anti-Racist Music
While rap and hip hop are often at the forefront of social justice issues, anti-racist music can come from any genre, including folk, jazz, blues, rock, pop, and more. Here are some other important socially conscious songs that confront and decry institutionalized racism and racist violence:
Joan Baez's "Birmingham Sunday" (1964). This song discusses the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four young Black girls.
Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddam" (1964). Simone's song was a direct response to the murder of Medgar Evers in Mississippi as well as the Birmingham Baptist church bombing.
Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" (1939). This song is a haunting portrayal of lynching in the American South. The lyrics describe "Southern trees bearing strange fruit/Blood on the leaves and blood at the roots/Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze/Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees."
Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" (1964). This song became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. Cooke sings, "I go to the movie, and I go downtown/Somebody keep tellin’ me don’t hang around/It’s been a long, a long time comin’, but I know a change gon’ come."
Stevie Wonder's "Black Man" (1976). The song discusses the contributions of Black individuals to American history and calls for justice and equality.
The Interrupters' "Divide Us" (2016). This Los Angeles band's song rages against politicians who seek to gain from espousing racist ideas. The lyrics outline the ways in which the government uses power to control the minds of its citizenry.
Anti-racist songs can also come from groups like MCE, a music collective working to uplift and educate their predominantly African American community of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Their latest release is “1955 UnTILL,” which celebrates the life and legacy of Mamie and Emmitt Till.
Art and music don't just affect individuals; they can shift cultural paradigms. They serve as educational tools, psychological aids, and cultural catalysts that can challenge or complicate America's record on race, making a lasting impact on society.
Explore Anti-Racist Art and Music With ARCC
The Anti-Racism Commitment Coalition (ARCC) is an inclusive coalition of dedicated people committed to eradicating racism and spreading anti-racism throughout our communities, countries, and the world. We work to help and educate people on their transformative journey to anti-racism by providing access to related support and resources. Join us for our podcast featuring the anti-racist music collective MCE.
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