The month of May is littered with important anniversaries in movements for justice — beginning on May 1, the day of recognition for workers and laborers everywhere. After that comes the birthdays of activists Pete Seeger and James Brown. This month will see the anniversary of the first Freedom Ride through the South, and the Kent State shootings of anti-war protesters. The approval of the ‘Ground Zero’ mosque (and the subsequent rise of anti-Muslim rhetoric) marked a troubling turning point for Islamophobia in America; on a May day nine years earlier, Pope John Paul II became the first pope in history to enter a mosque. Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically-elected president of South Africa. And that’s all just the first ten days of May.
Take a listen. Got a favorite song for justice? Share below — and in the meantime, enjoy these tunes.
1. "Talking Union," Pete Seeger (birthday: May 3)
2. "Workin’ Woman Blues," Valerie June
3. "Working Class Hero," John Lennon*
*Mild profanity
4. "Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud," James Brown (birthday: May 3, 1919)
5. "We Shall Not Be Moved," Freedom Singers (song of the Freedom Riders: May 4, 1961)
6. "Ohio," Neil Young (Kent State: May 4, 1970)
7. "The Wall," K’naan (‘Ground Zero’ mosque approved, protests begin: May 5, 2010)
8. "Hamdulillah," The Narcycist (Pope John Paul II visits mosque: May 6, 2001)
9. "Working Class," freshlyground (Nelson Mandela’s inauguration: May 10, 1994)
10. "We Shall Overcome," gospel tune/Charles Tindley/Septima Clark/Pete Seeger (song of the Freedom Riders: May 1961)
Want more curated tunes from Sojourners?
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