27 Dec 2019

Top Ten Albums Of Protest Music In 2019

*The following is a collection of some of the best albums of protest music released in 2019. They were selected by Kevin Gosztola and C.J. Baker, who publishes writing regularly at Ongoing History Of Protest Songs. They are in alphabetical order by artist. Kishi Bashi — Omoiyari Kishi Bashi’s stunning

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11 Dec 2019

Protest Song Of The Week: ‘Goat Head’ By Brittany Howard

The following post originally appeared at Ongoing History Of Protest Songs. Best known as the powerhouse lead vocalist of Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard recently released her critically acclaimed debut album “Jamie.” The album is named after her sister who passed away in her teens. Yet, although the loss of her

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25 Oct 2019

Die Jim Crow Project To Become First U.S. Record Label Devoted To Incarcerated Musicians

The Die Jim Crow project has recorded over 50 musicians in five prisons in Colorado, Ohio, Mississippi, and South Carolina. They have dozens of unreleased tracks and launched a Kickstarter to expand into a non-profit record label.

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24 Sep 2019

Protest Song Of The Week: ‘Blankenship’ By DIIV

DIIV’s tune appears to refer to Don Blankenship, the climate change denier and former CEO of Massey Energy Company, the sixth-largest coal mining company in the United States. He was sentenced to prison for his role in the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion.

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30 Jul 2019

Protest Song Of The Week: ‘Hope For The Underrated Youth’ By Yungblud

The post originally appeared at Ongoing History of Protest Songs. When looking back at the history of protest movements, young people have always been at the forefront. That has been the case with recent protests against gun violence, climate change, and a variety of other social ills. Yungblud, a 21-year-old

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21 Jul 2019

Top Ten Protest Albums Of 2019 (So Far)

Halfway through 2019, Kevin Gosztola and C.J. Baker compile list of best protest music albums so far, including Mavis Staples, Kishi Bashi, and Last Poets.

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25 Jun 2019

When Former Prisoner Sold Dr. John A Protest Song From Angola Prison

In 1970, Dr. John recorded a song his friend gave him after serving more than 40 years at the infamous Louisiana State Penitentiary known as Angola.

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17 Jun 2019

Protest Songs Of The Week: ‘Killer Whale’ And ‘Sadfluid’ By Dark Smith

The post was originally published at Ongoing History Of Protest Music. “You will not replace us.” The white supremacists rallying cry expresses a paranoia that the traditional white male Christian power structure is under attack. Racists, homophobes, and misogynists want to preserve the oppressive status quo, which benefits them at

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03 May 2019

The Social Gospel Music Of Tracy Howe’s ‘Things That Grow’

Bearing witness to violence in communities while acknowledging human resilience, Tracy Howe creates social gospel music inspired by struggles for liberation

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24 Apr 2019

Protest Song Of The Week: ‘All Some Kind Of Dream’ By Josh Ritter

Over his two-decade career, Josh Ritter has become a well-respected singer-songwriter known for his narrative lyrics. In “All Some Kind Of Dream,” addressing Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant policies, Josh Ritter balances mournful indictment with hope human compassion will win out in the end.

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