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RESISTANCE ON WAX
SOUNDTRACKS TO THE MOVEMENT
During the golden age of television, it’s medium sped political movements towards social change in America. Through interviews, live coverage of demonstrations and broadcasts on the complexities of the ‘movements,’ media became the educator. Black Americans contributed to much of this, sometimes forgotten, ‘anti-establishment.’ Martha Reeves and the Vandells released "I Should Be Proud" in 1970,
the first anti-war song from the Motown label. It was followed a few months later by “War,” first recorded by the Temptations. Along with intensified friction within the different fractions, the combination of inner city rebellions, the Vietnam War and economic downtimes added fuel to the fire in the ’60s and early ’70s. There’s a straight line connecting that era and the ongoing debates about police brutality, economic inequality, mass incarceration, underrepresentation and other major disadvantages still facing Black America today.
Emortal Magazine
The first album by The Last Poets is their self-titled debut studio album, The Last Poets, released in 1970 by Douglas Records.
The album peaked at #29 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Notable tracks "When the Revolution Comes," and "Niggers Are Scared of Revolution sparked Black consciousness throughout the turbulent 70's.
Civil Rights and Black power movement record albums documented the struggle for equality through genres like jazz, folk, and gospel, serving as tools for motivation, community building, and psychological strength. Key examples include Max Roach's We Insist! Freedom Now Suite (1960), John Coltrane's "Alabama," and Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddam," which confronted racism and injustice directly. These records, along with recordings of speeches by figures like Stokely Carmichael, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr., provided a soundtrack to the movement and helped to shape public understanding of civil rights issues during a time long before digital media.
Black Power had a significant impact on pop culture and music, not the least of which occurred in the decade between 1965 and 1975. In his book ‘Listen Whitey! The Sights and Sound of Black Power,’ Pat Thomas writes: “As the Black Power movement expanded, it influenced established artists such as Marvin Gaye James Brown and the Isley Brothers. The movement would shape the voice of emerging songwriters like Sly Stone and Gil Scott-Heron... It would force Jimi Hendrix to reconsider his apolitical stance. There would be once rank-and-file Black Panther Party members like Nile Rodgers of Chic and Chaka Khan of Rufus who would go on to pop music fame in the 1970s.” These recordings not only documented the struggle, but also fostered a shared purpose and identity, allowing activists to spread messages, uplift spirits and overcome brutality during marches and protests.