Poverty in America

The Activist's Playlist

Published June 29, 2009 @ 06:32PM PT

Tonight in my N.I.A. class we moved to a Michael Jackson tribute playlist.  When "Man in the Mirror" started, a student said "Woman in the Mirror!" as we were all women standing before the studio's mirrors.  It was a great class - my first in 5 months; I'll be taking them for free now in exchange for volunteering at the studio.  (Mop the floor, then dance on it, basically...)

MitM left me wondering what folks listen to to get themselves psyched up about the work they do and tackling the world's problems.  On my iPod I've got this playlist called "In the World" that I consider to be a loose collection of social activism songs - or songs that remind me why I'm an activist.  A random sampling:

Virtual Insanity, Jamiroquai

Living for the City, Stevie Wonder

All Alone (No One to be With), Slick Rick

Let's Do it Together & Beautiful Tomorrow, Blue Six

Someday We'll All be Free, Donny Hathaway

And a bunch of CSN, 10k Maniacs, and some I'd rather not mention. (All I'll say is, Hear me Roar!)  :)

Your turn.  What's on your playlist?

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Comments (18)

  1. JOHN HENRY

    welcome,ending poverty in america is just like telling the rich to stop stealing (some of them) or to do more to help us put a end to poverty.just look at this if all the churchs&acter&film maker do their part and write off some our all on thay taxes it can be done.thay pay high taxes any way. just help. one love

    THE PEACEMAKER

    Posted by JOHN HENRY on 06/29/2009 @ 07:34PM PT

  2. Dave Bennion

    Me Llaman Calle - Manu Chau

    This is Not a Love Song - PIL (Europop version)

     

    Posted by Dave Bennion on 06/29/2009 @ 08:09PM PT

  3. Michael Bear

    To steal Michelle's thunder - Live Your Life by TI

    Also:

    - What's Left of the Flag by Flogging Molly

    - Sweet Little Thing by Lucero

    - Tiny Dancer by Elton John

    - Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Show

    Posted by Michael Bear on 06/29/2009 @ 09:40PM PT

  4. Oceania OZ

    From Little Things, Big Things Grow  -  Paul Kelly

    Love Generation - Bob Sinclair

    Fav video : Dan, the Dancing Man

     

    Posted by Oceania OZ on 06/29/2009 @ 10:12PM PT

  5. Oceania OZ

    Oh, and "Eye of the Tiger"

     

    Posted by Oceania OZ on 06/29/2009 @ 10:24PM PT

  6. Leigh Graham

    Love it!

    Posted by Leigh Graham on 06/30/2009 @ 05:05AM PT

  7. Reply to thread
  8. Oceania OZ

    Sorry guys, wrong Dancing Man, It's www.wherethehellismatt.com

     

    Posted by Oceania OZ on 06/29/2009 @ 10:59PM PT

  9. Matt Kelley

    Biggie - Things Done Changed

    MIA - Paper Planes

    Ting Tings - Not My Name

    The National - Secret Meeting

    (but these days, it's all MJ, all the time)

    Posted by Matt Kelley on 06/30/2009 @ 05:04AM PT

  10. Leigh Graham

    It is all MJ, isn't it!

    Love The Ting Tings!

    Posted by Leigh Graham on 06/30/2009 @ 05:06AM PT

  11. Reply to thread
  12. Leigh Graham

    Excellent! I haven't heard of half these songs.  Time for research!

    Posted by Leigh Graham on 06/30/2009 @ 05:08AM PT

  13. Jeremy Keith Hammond

    What I've Done - Linkin Park

    Reeducation - Rise Against

    Land of Confusion - Disturbed (Cover  of Genesis)

    Plus anything by Rage Against the Machine.

    Posted by Jeremy Keith Hammond on 06/30/2009 @ 08:10AM PT

  14. Emily Gertz

    At the risk of revealing too much, my iPod's "Top 25" includes:

    How Soon Is Now (The Smiths)

    Atmosphere (Joy Division)

    Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division)

    Anarchy in the UK (The Sex Pistols)

    Holiday in Cambodia (Dead Kennedys)

    Posted by Emily Gertz on 06/30/2009 @ 03:19PM PT

  15. Jeremy Keith Hammond

    PS... really fun blog post, Leigh.

    Posted by Jeremy Keith Hammond on 06/30/2009 @ 03:23PM PT

  16. Justin Berk

    Activism Inspiration, eh?

    Frank Sinatra - My Way

    Miley Cyrus - The Climb (that's right)

    Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer

    Rascal Flatts - Life is a Highway (more just uplifting than activism-inspiring)

    Posted by Justin Berk on 06/30/2009 @ 03:55PM PT

  17. Oceania OZ

    Sweet!

    Posted by Oceania OZ on 07/01/2009 @ 01:57AM PT

  18. Reply to thread
  19. Jeremy Keith Hammond

    A nice new song about how desperation (less wickedness) ie: poverty, is a cause of crime:

    Ain't No Rest For The Wicked 

    by Cage the Elephant

    Posted by Jeremy Keith Hammond on 06/30/2009 @ 04:21PM PT

  20. Laura G.

    Ghetto Bastard - Naughty by Nature

    Changes - Tupac

    Masters of War - Bob Dylan

    My Window - soulbone Lyrics

    No Woman No Cry - Fugees version on their cd

    True colors - Fredro starr featuring Jill Scott

    Almost anything by Rage Against the Machine, esp. The Battle of Los Angeles

    Posted by Laura G. on 08/09/2009 @ 01:18PM PT

  21. John Steinsvold

    An Alternative to Capitalism?

    The following link, takes you to a "utopian" article, entitled "Home of the Brave?" which I wrote and appeared in the Athenaeum Library of Philosophy:

     http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/steinsvold.htm

     John Steinsvold

     

    Posted by John Steinsvold on 10/07/2009 @ 07:44PM PT

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Leigh Graham

Leigh is a PhD candidate in urban planning at MIT, and a consultant on U.S. Gulf Coast recovery. She sits on the Board of the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation in Boston, and has worked with non-profits, foundations and local governments on policies and programs aimed at reducing urban poverty and inequality.

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