Music as a Weapon of Political Resistance

By Simrat Sidhu (2211)

For centuries, people who have lived under oppressive regimes and have been systematically marginalized from mainstream society have turned to art as an instrument to express their resistance. Music is widely regarded as a form of art that has the capacity to bring out societal change by not only evoking powerful emotions in the hearts of people but also by connecting them and sensitizing them to the experiences of those individuals who are less fortunate than them. Politically themed and socially conscious music has persisted for many years as a weapon to fight racism, homophobia and other forms of social injustice. For instance, years before the birth of the Black Lives Matter movement, hip-hop emerged in Bronx, New York in the 1970s to finally vocalize the suppressed voices of the black community who had been long afflicted by poverty and racism. It came to be known as the ‘Voice of the Streets’ and has since played a major role in uplifting the community by making their experiences known to the rest of the world. Another very recent example is that of Ukraine where the sound of the violin became a tool of resistance against Russian occupation. Acclaimed violinists from across the world joined hands with those of Ukraine and played their instrument as a way to showcase their support and stand in solidarity with the populace.

As a form of protest, music has never failed to strike a chord in the hearts of the people and inspire them to action. Efforts made by artists to express their political views hold tremendous force and their influence can engage even those who previously identified as apolitical. It’s important that voice of everyone be heard and music is one of the most attractive means for that.