Protest, Progress, and Hope
The past weeks we have gone over many topics but the one that had stood out to me most was Protest, Progress, and Hope.
The first song that I have chosen is Keep Ya Head Up by Tupac from 1993. This song has been my inspiration to keep on hoping that this world will change. Tupac raps about many issues in this world in general, he goes from giving women rights to giving kids struggling in this world something to hope for. But the one that has really stuck out to me each time I listen to this song is his message to women. This song just gives me more hope every time I listen to it. Tupac hits sensitive topics such as the abuse that men show women when he says “And when he tells you you ain’t nothin’, don’t believe him.” This touches on the topic of how women are still treated to this day, he then continues on to say, “And if he can't learn to love him you should leave him.” This line is a power that reaches out to all the women who need that push to leave to be independent to count on themselves. These few lines give women hope to keep their heads up.
The second song that I am adding to my playlist is Stay Woke by Meek Mill ft. Miguel. This rap is a more recent rap made in 2018 which made a debut in a powerful message on the BET Awards stage for the Black Lives Matter movement. This song gives us a powerful look into African American communities and the progress and protest to where African Americans are today. As the songs says “ We scream Black Lives Matter but we still totin ladders” this is a phrase that gives us a look at where we are today, and today we are still doing bad things like selling drugs and we still want to protest for change when can’t even change the way we make a living. Then this piece gives us more on the way of protesting and things that are wrong on this Earth. The rapper states “ In a world where Black is wrong and White right, It's like a combat, we go to war for our freedom, they say we equal.” This line is most relevant in the time of these brutal police brutality moments. That line gives us something we protest for, for the right to walk down the street and not be judged because of my skin color.
The next song I’m adding to my playlist is Rollercoaster by India Arie released in 2019. This song is more about progress and where we have come to this day. Arie gives us lyrics about the life we live and what is happening but how we simply ignore that it is happening. This song is about the change from what we have made it to in our daily lives. She sings “ Let me off this rollercoaster, I don’t want to ride anymore.” She is giving us a message that this continuous ride that we continue to ride is not okay. We can't ride it anymore! Another very powerful line that she sings is “The way they do the human race is a ridiculous crime, And Colin Kaepernick's knee got y'all losin' y'all minds? Come on.” She is telling us that the fact that we are protesting has you freaking out, but the fact that the human race has done so many wrong things makes no sense. From slavery to the fear of the color of someone’s skin or beliefs. She then ends her song as if it were a news headline, from the shooting of young black men to the school shootings happening all over this country. This song is a message to the human race that there needs to be changes made but still gives a notice to where we are, or progress.
The last song that I will be adding to my playlist is Brighter Day by Kirk Franklin which was released in 2002. This is a gospel song that has always given me hope when I need help with my beliefs. This song always reminds me that God is there to help me and that he will make my day better. One lyric that has always touched me is “And I never knew I'd be so secure because of your love, Life has brand new meaning” This lyric always gives me hope that God is there to love and take care of me. He will always be there for me through the easiest and hardest times. This song always reminds me that it will be a Brighter Day. It gives me hope to trust in my Lord. It gives me hope that this life will get better for everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMNQHWHTZXBtS1xCZ53V_rK6rCedcMD28
The past weeks we have gone over many topics but the one that had stood out to me most was Protest, Progress, and Hope.
The first song that I have chosen is Keep Ya Head Up by Tupac from 1993. This song has been my inspiration to keep on hoping that this world will change. Tupac raps about many issues in this world in general, he goes from giving women rights to giving kids struggling in this world something to hope for. But the one that has really stuck out to me each time I listen to this song is his message to women. This song just gives me more hope every time I listen to it. Tupac hits sensitive topics such as the abuse that men show women when he says “And when he tells you you ain’t nothin’, don’t believe him.” This touches on the topic of how women are still treated to this day, he then continues on to say, “And if he can't learn to love him you should leave him.” This line is a power that reaches out to all the women who need that push to leave to be independent to count on themselves. These few lines give women hope to keep their heads up.
The second song that I am adding to my playlist is Stay Woke by Meek Mill ft. Miguel. This rap is a more recent rap made in 2018 which made a debut in a powerful message on the BET Awards stage for the Black Lives Matter movement. This song gives us a powerful look into African American communities and the progress and protest to where African Americans are today. As the songs says “ We scream Black Lives Matter but we still totin ladders” this is a phrase that gives us a look at where we are today, and today we are still doing bad things like selling drugs and we still want to protest for change when can’t even change the way we make a living. Then this piece gives us more on the way of protesting and things that are wrong on this Earth. The rapper states “ In a world where Black is wrong and White right, It's like a combat, we go to war for our freedom, they say we equal.” This line is most relevant in the time of these brutal police brutality moments. That line gives us something we protest for, for the right to walk down the street and not be judged because of my skin color.
The next song I’m adding to my playlist is Rollercoaster by India Arie released in 2019. This song is more about progress and where we have come to this day. Arie gives us lyrics about the life we live and what is happening but how we simply ignore that it is happening. This song is about the change from what we have made it to in our daily lives. She sings “ Let me off this rollercoaster, I don’t want to ride anymore.” She is giving us a message that this continuous ride that we continue to ride is not okay. We can't ride it anymore! Another very powerful line that she sings is “The way they do the human race is a ridiculous crime, And Colin Kaepernick's knee got y'all losin' y'all minds? Come on.” She is telling us that the fact that we are protesting has you freaking out, but the fact that the human race has done so many wrong things makes no sense. From slavery to the fear of the color of someone’s skin or beliefs. She then ends her song as if it were a news headline, from the shooting of young black men to the school shootings happening all over this country. This song is a message to the human race that there needs to be changes made but still gives a notice to where we are, or progress.
The last song that I will be adding to my playlist is Brighter Day by Kirk Franklin which was released in 2002. This is a gospel song that has always given me hope when I need help with my beliefs. This song always reminds me that God is there to help me and that he will make my day better. One lyric that has always touched me is “And I never knew I'd be so secure because of your love, Life has brand new meaning” This lyric always gives me hope that God is there to love and take care of me. He will always be there for me through the easiest and hardest times. This song always reminds me that it will be a Brighter Day. It gives me hope to trust in my Lord. It gives me hope that this life will get better for everyone.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMNQHWHTZXBtS1xCZ53V_rK6rCedcMD28