My Blackness is My Protest.

Written by Kenleigh Dior Black

In times when words may not be enough, this playlist offers songs that encompass aspects of Black culture, –  songs of protest, radical change and identity.

I.   “NRICH” - Killer Mike 

This track is an intense confession of the stereotypes placed upon the Black community that undermine the beauty of Blackness. Killer Mike raps that in spite of this reality, Blackness remains rich in successes, accolades and perseverance. He calls out violence within the  community and urges  Black Americans to liberate themselves from a mindset rooted in slavery. He emphasizes themes of Black pride stating that “Black and bright, Black as night, Black and Brilliant.” 

II.    “F.U.B.U” - Solange 

The acronym in the title stands for  “For Us, By Us, ” serving as a safeguard for the identity of Black people worldwide.  It encompasses the struggles of Black people in a world that is historically known for oppressing Black voices, creativity and progress. Solange calls for Black people to gatekeep and hold space for one another, as opposed to a world full of rejection, to provide our own opportunities and spaces away from a world that excludes us. 

III.    “Alright”- Kendrick Lamar

The opening of this song is a tribute to the classic film and novel “The Color Purple” with the lyrics “all’s my life I had to fight.” In its original media, the saying reiterated the sentiments of people like Malcom X who, in his speech to women on May 22, 1962,  said “the most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.” As the film’s character Sofia details the oppressive forces she has had to fight against in her life, she ends by proclaiming that she is drawing the line in the sand at threats of physical violence. The character Lamar relates, and adds a level of comfort to Black America exclaiming “we gone be alright” in the face of police brutality, gang violence and systemic oppression. It is a tagline that became synonymous with liberation and endurance. 

IV.    “Django Jane”- Janelle Monae

This song is a fierce declaration of unfiltered Black identity, highlighting intersections of feminism, anti-Blackness and segregation. Monae notes how hard she and her parents had to work for her to reach the stardom she has found. She also calls out entities like the Oscars for their prejudice and habit of  rarely featuring Black actors. Monae presents the idea of Black unity, encouraging Black people to have a sense of interconnectedness in the face of oppression with her lyrics “for the culture, I kamikaze, I put my life on a lifeline.”

V.      “On and On” - Eyrkah Badu 

“If we were made in his image then call us by our names.” Badu makes niche references to the five percent nation which was an organization with the ideology that Black people are the original peoples, with Black men being most closely and directly linked to gods. In the chorus Badu says that she goes “on and on,” and that her “cipher keeps turning like a rolling stone,” which I interpret to mean that regardless of the ways of the world, she will remain rooted in her identity. 

VI.     “The Charade” - D’Angelo 

Rest in peace to D’Angelo. As he is no longer living, his music survives and remains relevant addressing systemic oppression and unjust killings of Black men. He also makes reference to the Million Man March on D.C in 1995. Ultimately telling Black America to wake up and become privy to “the charade” white America put on to make us believe that we are liberated without the matching actions.

VII. “Doo Wop” - Lauryn Hill

This track is a classic in the Black community, representing a world where the adultification of Black girls and gender norms are a common point of contention. Hill presents a letter to Black women specifically, calling out insecurities, the need to seek outside of ourselves for validation and suggesting the rejection of European beauty standards. She also calls out Black men for their misogynoir and continuing the objectification of Black women. With the song’s lyrics and message, it seeks a united front and stronger community between Black women and men. 

VIII. “Freedom”- Beyonce 

Within the first few lines of this song, Beyonce insinuates that Black people have been peaceful for too long with her declaration that she is now “painting white flags blue.” The song screams liberation and perseverance, urging Black people to not give up. There are many powerful references made to things like Black codes, the famous hymn “Wade in the Water” by Fredrick Work and John Work Jr. which highlighted the experience of enslaved Africans and their relationship with Christianity, and mass incarceration.

IX.      “Lift Every Voice and Sing” - James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson

Championed

“The Black national anthem,” this song started as a poem, and was later composed as a song. The lyrics capture the essence of Black people persevering through the trails of slavery. It focuses on having hope that progress will continue to be made and Black people will hold true to their identities, lifting our voices “til Earth and Heaven ring.”