The Inclusive Power of Music

DEI is more important than ever.

At a time when the President of the United States orders that all US government staff working on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) schemes be put on immediate paid administrative leave, we need hope.

At a time when the President of the United States revokes a directive aimed at preventing discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, we need solidarity.

At a time when the President of the United States has become the first US president to attend America’s largest annual anti-abortion rally after pardoning anti-abortion activists, we need empathy.

At a time when the President of the United States signs an order to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement for a second time, we need action.

---

I delivered an assembly last week on the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion. I talked about the myriad of things that we have done as a school and all the things we still need to do. But mostly, I used it as an opportunity to talk about the power of music to improve empathy.

When the students came into assembly, I was playing Bag of Cans’ Favourite Shirt, whilst wearing one of my favourite shirts. It was an IDLES t-shirt, which said ‘Be the I in Unify.’

Bag of Cans are always spontaneous and joyous, it’s impossible not to be wrapped up in the moment when you see them live. Seeing live music is such a great way to connect with others and to be present. It’s a great way to appreciate the positive in people. It’s a great way to feel things and engage with emotions in a way that our corporate world doesn’t want. Ultimately though, the Bag of Cans song is amazing and I thought it would be fun to play it to a whole school. After all, what encourages connection, tolerance and perspective like fun?

After talking about EDI more generally, I then got back to talk about music. I played bits of 6 different songs written in the last year or so (as is the Recent and Decent way) that tackle or open up conversations about inclusion. A lot of songs that talk about injustice are also incredibly sweary so I had to be very selective with my song choices and often very quick with the pause button! I thought I would share these songs with you.

Louis VI - Orange Skies

This song honours the power of nature and highlights human’s mistreatment of her. It also touches on the disproportionate impact that climate change has on Black and indigenous lives. At least 50% of this song is also directed to EarthPercent, a registered charity that redistributes funds to high-impact, rights-based conservation initiatives around the world.

“Calling climate justice it's about time.

Cos our black people on the front line

Ain't you seeing what I'm seeing

Hurricanes & fires blazing

Flooding in Savannah basins

We were all indigenous until they slaved us”

Sahra Halgan - Sharaf

Sahra Halgan is an artist from Somaliland, a country in the Horn of Africa that has been independent since 1991, but as yet unrecognised by the international community. A self taught nurse, she earned the name 'Halgan' – The Fighter – in the 1980s when she was involved in the terrible war against the dictatorship. This afforded her admiration – but it is her music that has made her an icon. Uplifting yet reverent, it is music filled with soul and courage and love.

Corinne Bailey Rae - Erasure

Corinne Bailey Rae has gone through perhaps the biggest transformation in genre over the last few years. From luscious and melodic pop to alternative rock. She stated that Black Rainbows was inspired by an exhibition on Black history by artist Theaster Gates at the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago that she attended, which "summoned thoughts about slavery, spirituality, beauty, survival, hope and freedom".

They Typex'd all the black kids out of the picture

So when they pictured that scene, they wouldn't be seen

Baby girl in the front row with the cornrows

Smiling at the band

They made a cartoon of you

They beat you into lead

And made an object out of you

They put out lit cigarettes

Down your sweet throat

They fed you to the alligators

They tried to erase you

Loyle Corner - Nobody Knows

This is a song about fitting in as a black man, it’s about loss, it’s about loneliness, it’s about masculinity. He’s stereotyped as strong but as lyrics attest, he really wants a hug. He wants to be heard and to be treated as human.

I would shout, "Nah, love means nothing"

Say I want a hug I wanna talk I want something

See, I reached the black man, he wouldn't take my hand

Told the white man, he didn't understand

I sat alone in the shadows of a man

With my eyes closed, told myself I should've ran

Kojey Radical - War Outside

His style has been described as a mix of grime hip hop, alternative rap, and spoken word. I think it’s a song or maybe even a poem about how he sees all of this war going on around him but whilst he can’t ignore it, everyone else seems to be able to. It’s an articulation of the how heavy the world is, especially in juxtaposition to those who remain oblivious.

“There's a war goin' on outside

Nobody see it but me (but me)”

——

To finish off the assembly I shared the entire song, Danny Nedelko by IDLES. Some might even say that I subjected the children to it. But, you know what, most 14 year old kids aren’t exposed to shouty punk rock and, if we’re inclusive, we should really explore all types of music. Although this song was released a few years ago (and I made a point about celebrating new music), I did actually see IDLES live last year and had close to an out-of-body experience. Danny Nedelko is also a song about celebrating immigration. Something Trump wouldn’t understand. Their music, their philosophy, their message is incredibly inclusive and I love them. And, well, it was my assembly, so I got the last say.

He's made of bones, he's made of blood

He's made of flesh, he's made of love

He's made of you, he's made of me

Unity.

---

It is my belief that music can inspire inclusivity. I know from experience. I know, from all of the gigs I’ve seen, how I feel singing and moving with a crowd. How unifying an experience it is. How real it feels and how human I become. Live music provides me with faith in humanity. Music is so often about community, history and culture. Listening to a variety of music helps us to tap into those communities, histories and cultures that are different to ours. We open our ears and, in turn, open our hearts and engage our brains. This can be achieved through other art too, for sure. Some people broaden their horizons and learn about new narratives through literature, painting or film, for instance. Art is needed. Music is needed. Music is resistance. Music is connecting. Music is power.