1. Song: “Be Free" by J. Cole (2014)
J. Cole released this song shortly after Mike Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri. The song features a description of what happened from Mike Brown’s friend. Listen to the song and follow along with the lyrics on the screen.
http://safeshare.tv/w/zyDULnTgar
Analysis Question: “Chains” are often associated with slavery, but J. Cole is talking about modern society. What do chains symbolize here?
2. Song: "Hell You Talmbout" by Janelle Monae and Wondaland (2015)
Janelle Monae and Wondaland released this song in Summer 2015. It features the names of many African-Americans who have been killed due to police and other race-related violence. Listen to the song. You can follow along with the lyrics and look at some information about the people who are mentioned using the second link.
Song: https://soundcloud.com/wondalandarts/hell-you-talmbout
Lyrics: http://genius.com/Janelle-monae-and-wondaland-records-hell-you-talmbout-say-their-names-lyrics
Analysis Question: What is the power of “saying his/her name” when we are talking about people who died due to police violence or in other circumstances when their killers aren’t brought to justice?
3. Video: Bree Newsome’s Removal of the Confederate Flag and Arrest (2015)
In 2015, after the shooting of the Charleston 9 by Dylann Roof, a self-avowed white supremacist, the debate over the confederate flag, which flew at the South Carolina state capitol, intensified. Activist Bree Newsome scaled the flagpole and took the flag down herself, and was then arrested. Less than a month later, the flag was removed for good. Watch the video.
http://safeshare.tv/w/qWWImbklgG
Analysis Question: Removing the flag was a symbolic act. What did removing the flag symbolize?
4. Book Excerpt: From Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015)
Coates wrote this book, about what it means to live as a Black man in America, to his 15-year-old son in 2015. This excerpt discusses slavery and its effects. Read the excerpt.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sEUOBdlFvk3cEPyxazUuBHOTWPUVoM9NBacEyZm-J8o/edit?usp=sharing
Analysis Question: What is the effect of personifying slavery the way Coates does?
5. Song and Video: "The Story of O.J." by Jay-Z (2017)
Jay-Z released "The Story of O.J. on his album 4:44. The song references O.J. Simpson, whose murder trial in 1995 had large racial implications in America. The video for the song invokes stereotypical racist cartoon imagery from the 20th century. Listen to the song and watch the video.
https://safeshare.tv/my/safeviews/RM7lw0Ovzq0/play
Lyrics: https://genius.com/Jay-z-the-story-of-oj-lyrics
Analysis Questions: What is Jay-Z implying when he says "still n****"? What is the effect of pairing these lyrics with racist cartoon imagery?
6. Article and Video: "Durham's Confederate Statue Comes Down" (2017)
On August 14, 2017, after the KKK and other white supremacists marched in Charlottesville, VA, protesters in Durham pulled down the monument to Confederate soldiers that stood in downtown Durham. Read the article and watch the video.
https://safeshare.tv/my/safeviews/H-uAZa4H1vk/play
Analysis Questions: What does the toppling of the Confederate statue symbolize? Do you think this is an effective act of protest in response to Charlottesville? Why or why not?
7. Article and Video: "The Dramatic Fall of Silent Sam" and "Silenced Sam" (2018)
On August 20, 2018, after attempts to have the statue removed by legal means, protesters at UNC Chapel Hill pulled down Silent Sam, a monument to fallen Confederate soldiers that had stood on UNC's campus since 1913 . Read the article and watch the video.
Analysis Questions: What does the toppling of the Confederate statue symbolize? Does the toppling of statues like these matter? Why or why not?
8. Song And Video: “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar (2015)
Kendrick Lamar released “Alright” on his album To Pimp a Butterfly. Since then, the song has been chanted at many protests. Watch the music video.
http://safeshare.tv/w/tCiQFgpDAP
Analysis Question: What is Lamar’s message and how is conveyed in words and images? Why do you think this song has been used in protests and rallies?
9. Song and Video: "Freedom" BET Performance by Beyonce ft. Kendrick Lamar (2016)
This performance of "Freedom" from Beyonce's Lemonade album contains imagery that connects strongly to the theme of confinement. Watch the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOfXlCDpabA
Analysis Question: What imagery evokes themes of confinement? What is the message here?
10. Article: "On Korryn Gaines and Black Women Who Dare to be Defiant" (2016)
On August 1, 2016, police in Baltimore shot and killed 23 year old mother Korryn Gaines and wounded her five year old son, ending an hours-long standoff during which an armed Gaines refused to allow officers to enter her home. The police came to Gaines' house to serve a warrant for a traffic violation. In this article, the author compares Gaines to Assata Shakur. Read the article.
http://feministing.com/2016/08/04/on-korryn-gaines-and-black-women-who-dare-to-be-defiant/
Analysis Question: In what ways does the author compare Assata to Korryn Gaines? Is this a valid comparison? Are "defiant" women to be upheld as good examples?