Protest Music as Responsible Citizenship

In Development

Background

In September 2003, Harry Belafonte, Holly Near, Bernice Johnson Reagon, and Pete Seeger came together to speak and sing about Protest Music as Responsible Citizenship in a two-day conversation produced by Roadwork, Inc. under the auspices of The Ohio State University.

These four life-long protest singers have been colleagues and comrades in social justice work — across generations, races, sexual identities and movements. While their work intersected, this was the first and only time they all shared a stage together.

This event took place on September 10 and 11, 2003 — two years after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Like today, the early 2000s were a time of intense polarization — both at home and globally. During this time, protest was often viewed as illegitimate or unpatriotic. The participants raised a challenge — that protest music, and protest itself are expressions of responsible citizenship. Together, we explored how protest music helps to construct the political consciousness of our nation; how these songs mobilize thousands of people around issues affecting civic life; and how protest music addresses the role of the United States in global contexts.

Current Project

During the 2003 event, the participants expressed their desire that the event be more than an oral history stored in someone’s basement or library closet. They wanted to catalyze a continued conversation of Protest Music as Responsible Citizenship. Today we find ourselves in another period of unrest and uncertainty. To preserve and disseminate this historic event would encourage current and future generations of artists/activists to further embrace responsible citizenship through protest music. Thus placing today’s expression within a rich historical context.

Roadwork is currently seeking grant funding to preserve and develop this content.

Protest Music as Responsible Citizenship