REIGNITING THE ACTIVIST TRADITION The tradition of activism among America’s artistic and cultural leaders goes back to the early days of social justice movements. In 1939, Marion Anderson staged a defiant outdoor concert at the Lincoln Memorial, having been barred from Constitution Hall on account of her race. Paul Robeson, one of America’s most prominent African American actors in the 40’s, spoke openly for equality and encouraged his peers to do the same. “The artist must elect to fight for freedom or for slavery” he said, “I have made my choice.” The 1960’s ushered in a wave of artist-activists, from Joan Baez to Harry Belafonte to Bob Dylan. In the 1970’s there was Marvin Gaye to Bob Marley, whose politically charged work added cultural resonance to the words and actions of Martin Luther King Jr. and other social justice leaders. More recently in the 1980’s, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie along with dozens of other artists staged “We Are the World,” which delivered powerful testament to the power of artists to drive attention, resources, and action towards the world’s injustices. Artists such as Stevie Wonder, The Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Public Enemy and Macklemore have carried this same spirit of progressive change into the present day. Sankofa was founded in the spirit of these great leaders and artists, and now turns its attention to the most pressing issues of our time. Please support us in our cause! https://sankofa.org/mission https://twitter/sankofadotorg instagram/sankofadotorg
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:21:17 +0000
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