A playlist to encourage, emotionally strengthen and give endurance in the face of injustice.
Creator: Ama Antwi-Saki (Sociology & Human Rights)
1. Lions - Skip Marley
Our first pick, a call to peaceful protest, a song to ignite unity. You are not alone in your pain, inequality or experiencing injustices.
2. Legendary - Welsh Army
“You know the truth can be a weapon, to fight this world of ill intentions - a new answer to the same question: how many times will you learn the same question?”. Welsh Army’s ‘Legendary’ is a endurance masterpiece, relating to many who face daily injustice by reminding them that those who suffer later become legends. “I think they got it all wrong, we just got to hold on, and on and on and on ‘cause we’re gonna be legends - gonna get their attention, what we’re doing here it ain’t just scary, it’s about to be legendary”.
3. Wavin’ Flag - K’naan
K’naan’s energetic anthem invokes the feeling of hope for a brighter and better future. “When I get older, I will be stronger, they’ll call me freedom, just like a waving flag”.
4. Can’t Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
A song to make you feel invincible, empowered and ready to endure whatever is thrown your way - “Like the ceiling can't hold us".
5. Spirit - J Hus
J Hus’ ’Spirit’ is a testament to remaining brave in the face of fear, he reminds listeners to gain inner strength from knowing community will prevail over prejudice and stigma, and although “All you hear is siren and skeng fire, hold your higher” because ultimately, you’re spirit is your own and the strength you gain from community will remain and prevail over racism, stigma, prejudice, injustice and inequality. “They wan’ take ‘way my freedom, but they can’t take away my spirit”, J Hus, who wrote this album after his release from prison, emphasising incarceration isn’t the end, and through community, friendships and brotherly love he maintained his spirit.
6. Superheroes - Stormzy
Slowly the melody down, from our pop tracks, Stormzy’s ’Superheroes’ uses a rap beat instead, but deserves it’s place on this list. He raps, “Whole world want our demise, but know we ride. Tried to push us all to the side, we know our rights, now we get the whole of the pie” Stormzy’s ’Superheroes is an encouraging song for the Black community - with lyrics such as “young black king don’t die on me” and “young black queen don’t quit now” he expresses that even in the difficulty of racism in Britain, there is endurance and through music he extends his empathy and compassion, whilst encouraging the next generation to achieve greatness.