Education Program
Power of the Protest Song
Artist
Pamela Means
Grades
4-12 + higher ed
Format
Assembly
Through an engaging and thought-provoking mixture of historical and original songs, stories, and photographs, Pamela Means takes students through a history of American movements for change. From spirituals (“Soon Ah Will Be Done") and songs of emancipation (“No More Auction Block," parts of "Strange Fruit") to anthems of the Civil Rights and Anti-War Movements ("Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around," “What’s Goin’ On") to the eye-opening tunes of seminal writers like Tracy Chapman (“Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution”), Pamela demonstrates how music has documented and propelled social progress. She uses her own songs ("Sing for Love," "Today, Not Tomorrow") to offer a personal perspective on this history as a queer, bi-racial woman in a country where each of those identities has presented its own challenges. Students will walk away with a greater understanding of the historical importance of music and the ways art can be used for self-empowerment and healing, and with the knowledge that their own voices and perspectives matter.