What are some songs about racial discrimination?

Question

I need a few songs for a project in my english class about discrimination and oppression. Thanks

Answer 1

Bruce Hornsby "The Way Is Is"

Standing in line marking time
Waiting for the welfare dime
'Cause they can't buy a job
A man in a silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor old lady's eyes
Just for fun he says, "Get a job"

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
Ah, but don't you believe them

They say, "Hey little boy you can't go
Where the others go
'Cause you don't look like they do"
Said, "Hey old man
How can you stand to think that way
Did you really think about it
Before you made the rules"
He said, son

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
Ah, but don't you believe them

Well they passed a law in '64
To give those who ain't got a little more
But it only goes so far
Because the law don't change in another's mind
When all it sees is the hiring time
Is the line on the color bar

That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
That's just the way it is, it is, it is, it is

Answer 2

We Shall Overcome--This was the marching song of the civil
rights movement of the 60's in Alabama
and Mississippi.

Do Re Mi by Woody Guthrie- This song is about the poor
farmers who left Oklahoma in
dustbowl crisis in the 1920's
and were discriminated against
because of ther poverty.

Black, Brown, and White by Big Bill Broonzy
Trouble in Mind album (Smithsonian Folkways)
This bluesman was popular in the 1930's and then later in the 50's. This song is directly about racial discimination.
...if you's white, that's outa' sight,
if you's brown, hang around,
but if you's black--- get back get back.
These are three songs which deal with discrimination. We Shall Overcome and Black, Brown ,And White are directly about racial discrimination. The Woodie Guthrie songs, Dust Bowl Ballads in particular, are about the troubles that poor people faced during the depression.

Answer 3

War (Bob Marley song) this song is about racial discrimination.
George Michael's hit song Praying for Time.
The Beauty of Gray
From the album Mental Jewelry
Colors of the Wind" by Vanessa Williams
Cry Freedom" by Dave Matthews Band
Ebony & Ivory" by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What are some songs about racial discrimination?
I need a few songs for a project in my english class about discrimination and oppression. Thanks

Answer 5

Reservation.......I don't know who sings it, probably Google could help with that. Some of the words are, "They took the whole Cherokee Nation and put them on this Reservation, took away their ways of life, the tomahawk and the bow and knife"

Good luck.

Answer 6

Wounded Knee by Walela. You can hear it on Rhapsody, or download it on iTunes to a CD. Lyrics are below in sources.

Answer 7

Dropkick Murphys "A Boot to A Coon's Head"
or Bob Dylan "Blowin the Wind"

Answer 8

From the play "Hair": the song "I'm Black". Also, Colored Spade

Answer 9

check out the whole album "the devil made me do it"by Paris Smith should be 15 of em on there.

Answer 10

"Cop Killer" by Ice T

"Panther Power" by Tupac