Black Lives Matter:Most Recent Protest Songs

In the last few weeks, black musicians have been going hard for their community. Many of them have taken to social media to call out racists on their ignorance, while others are simply putting their pain into their music. In a recent blog, I wrote about how music should reflect troubling times. These amazing songs mentioned do just that! Filled with lots of musicality and strong lyrics, these songs are great protest anthems. I encourage everyone to listen to them if you haven't already. Furthermore, if you don't understand it's okay to not fully understand, but speak out if you care for others. If you have any regard for all human life and rights, speak up. Please and thank you!

‘I Can’t Breathe’, by singer H.E.R, is an amazing protest anthem. The song uses metaphors to express the wrongdoings of racists towards the black community. H.E.R stresses the problem with white supremacy and how even after the protests end, lives are still at risk. The song goes on with H.E.R. expressing in the chorus, “I Can't Breathe, you’re taking my life from me”. These lyrics were the last words of George Floyd, while he was brutally strangled to death by Minneapolis police. The singer even ends the song with a spoken word directed toward racist people which makes it even more significant. She lets her anger be heard as she implies that the system has failed us in many ways, all because of the color of our skin. After displaying many words of pain, she completes the song with a moment of silence.

The second song reflecting these trying times is ‘Empty Wishing Well’ by rapper Wale. The lyrics in the song reflect all of things related to the times we are experiencing in this country right now. Wale speaks about the global pandemic and how just about everything is shut down to social injustice and racism and its effects on our country. He also expresses how the news is dispersing distorted information and, therefore, can't be trusted. The D.C rapper ends the song with the lyrics “Who going outside and who coming back, shit we both don’t know cause we both black.” This strong statement signifies the plight of the black man, never knowing if he will return home ALIVE.

The song ‘Enough’ by Eric Bellinger talks about how fed up he is with the people of color constantly being harmed in America. His hook is very catchy as it proposes the question, “Why does history have to repeat itself and why can't the future just be a mystery”. “Enough is Enough” the singer says. He begs the world and system to put an end to police brutality.

Trey Songz is another artist who is doing all he can to put racism to an end. In fact, he has devoted his entire instagram page to racism awareness and holding racists accountable for their actions. His latest song ‘How Many Times’ talks about how people tend to complain when places are being set on fire but become silent when people are being mistreated. Songz also says that it's sad that black people can't even do normal human things or live in their own homes without dying. He even directs lyrics toward those who have lost their lives by saying “you're with God now, you don't have to worry.” Trey Songz even ends the song with the heartfelt singing of a choir.

All of these songs are beautiful and powerful and tell the stories and pain of the entire black community.