Black Lives Matter Movement, Part 1

Black History Month 

Black Lives Matter Movement, Pt 1


The ongoing racial movement of Black Lives Matter has seen the rise of fame and increased political nature of popular artists. Artists of high profile have released music that have become anthems for protests and/or open-ended conversation starters for racism. This led to a new generation of musicians that used their talent and music to address racism, violence, injustices and disillusionment. 


This post aims to explore some of the artists who have addressed the Black Lives Matter movement through their songs and how they hope to use Music to force people into rethinking and re-evaluating their own attitudes and behaviours. 


  1. Better Days - Victoria Monet featuring Ariana Grande


Victoria Monet collaborated with Ariana Grande to create an optimistic, tender duet serving as a call for a better and brighter future. It was released in 2017 following the murders of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling. Both at the hands of police officers. 


According to Victoria Monet and Ariana Grande - “music is a universal language that all of us can feel regardless of color lines, gender, sexuality, age, race and religion”. They summed the power of music up nicely explaining that “it unifies us”. 


The song demonstrates its support for a change in the world in the lyrics “don’t you hear the people fighting for their lives” referencing the ongoing civil rights war where the fight for equality was getting stronger.



  1. Freedom - Beyonce featuring Kendrick Lamar


Throughout her career, Beyonce has been an influential figure for the fight in equality. Her Lemonade album serves as an explanation of the experiences of black women - “the most disrespected person in America” (Beyonce) - whilst her Formation video and Super Bowl performance highlights her advocation of civil rights. However, her most political act within her music was Freedom. 


The album has a black and white clip that accompanied the track which showed the mothers of slain black men holding pictures of their sons whose deaths triggered the Black Lives Matter movement. She immediately demonstrated her support to the movement and the fight against police brutality exclaiming “It is up to us to take a stand and demand that they stop killing us”.



  1. Glory - Common featuring John Legend


Glory was initially written for the film Selma that reflected the events of the Civil Rights era. The gospel song however proved just as relevant in the current state of society. Parallels are drawn in the verses between Rosa Parks refusal to sit on the back of the bus and the protests that were happening in Ferguson in 2014. This is made evident in the lyrics “That’s why Rosa sat on the bus / That’s why we walk through Ferguson with our hands up”. 



  1. Black Rage (Sketch) - Lauryn Hill 


The lyrics simply speak for themselves in this song. It clearly demonstrates the thoughts of emotions of Black Communities whilst also creating a clear picture of the brutality they face in society on an everyday basis. 


Following the Michael Brown shooting, Lauryn Hill - an R&B singer - used the tune of “My Favourite Things” to create a powerful song on the torment and pain faced by the African American community. It demonstrates how hatred can only spiral to dark places. 


The most poignant lyrics that are also the opening lines of the songs are:

Black Rage is founded on two thirds a person

Rapings and beatings and suffering that worsens

Black human packages tied up in strings

Black rage can come from all these kinds of things


The music is hauntingly beautiful but serves as a powerful message to society that the attitudes and behaviours need to change.



  1. Where is the Love? - Black Eyed Peas


Potentially one of the biggest anthems for World peace and racial equality. The song was released in 2003 but still remains as important and significant 17 years later. The process of composing Where is the Love began following the 9/11 terror attacks with a simple loop and guitar part being created. 


It is a protest song in its lyrics but takes an intersectional approach to societal criticism from a racial justice perspective. The song touches upon issues raised by the 9/11 attacks including terrorism, US government hypocrisy, racism, gang crime, pollution, war and intollerance. The main message within the song is a call for love.




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