Social Justice Playlist

I want to thank all the artists here on this website and the countless others that weren't mentioned, for using their talents, their gifts, their words to do good and lift the people in this world we share.

See also the Micropedia of Microaggressions and their Impact: https://www.themicropedia.org/#/ 

“Music is a universal language that transcends geographic and cultural barriers”  and helps us to forge intercultural connections (Peristerakis, 2021). When a song speaks to you, you don’t need to understand every word or speak the language. Music speaks to something deep inside of each of us, which is likely why it has recently been used as the impetus for societal change. Certainly, it's a major reason why people turn to music for help, understanding, expression, and to raise awareness of social justice issues. 

Some musicians join together to show support and prompt widespread awareness and change, such as Artists Against, 25 for Haiti, and Artists CAN. We also see countless movies and musicals, based on real events and others that are fictional. These can be sharing knowledge, blasting misconceptions and biases, debunking stereotypes, and so much more. Common themes across the artist spectrum include racism, sexual identity discrimination, stereotyping, immigration, mental health, poverty, and Equality Rights (Government of Canada, 2020).

Awareness of social injustice and the effects of social justice issues is a vital area, not the least reason being the impact of adversity on development. In the early years specifically, what happens can matter for a lifetime; recognizing and addressing problems early is critical before they get worse (Harvard University, 2020a). Research tells us that major adversity such as social justice issues like poverty, discrimination, and prolonged or toxic stress can weaken brain development (Harvard University, 2020a; Harvard University, 2020b). There is growing evidence that racism and everyday discrimination specifically are connected to significant "wear and tear" on children's stress response systems, learning, behaviour, and both physical and mental health (Harvard University, 2020b).