Jamila Woods Quotes

I think that there are artists of different genres whose calling is to use their art to hope to affect and better the human condition - whether it's System of a Down, or Rage Against the Machine, or Public Enemy, or the Clash, Bruce Springsteen, or Pete Seeger. It's a group that I'm proud to be counted among.

I used protest music as a vehicle.

I was really lucky that I came to puberty at a time when music and politics were completely intertwined.

Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor people.

I can't exactly say why there's not much protest music to speak off. And I know there are acts out there still putting a message in their music.

I think that Hiphop should be a pulpit for the people.

Some people just don't want to see change, but thankfully there are a lot of people more optimistic for something new in music, even with the bigger picture like with Obama getting elected.

The ideals and principles for which Dr King fought have never been forgotten and are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago.

Since the dawn of recorded music, every generation has felt shocked by the musical tastes of the next.

If you see something is going wrong within politics and the world today, then some Hip Hop artist is gonna come along and get straight with it. If they think that there's a lot of racism going on then there's another Hip Hop artist who's gonna come out and speak their mind.

Early in my career, people wanted to hear music about protest, about trying to change things.

I certainly was one of the instigators in the 1960s of freedom of expression.

It's important for me, politically, to see that theater isn't just about the powerful.

From chain gangs to folk songs to intelligent soul, America has created musicians dedicated to truth, justice, and a better American Way.

I say let's go back to a truer use of the word 'freedom.' Let's start with President Franklin Roosevelt's Four Freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. I would add the freedom to bargain collectively. Those freedoms are under attack today.

To protect the right of expression is the central part of an artist's activity... In China many essential rights are lacking, and I wanted to remind people of this.

There aren't that many things left that haven't already been done, especially with music. I'm interested in ideas that can shake us all up.

These young people have to know that Dr. King and others made it possible for them to do their Hip Hopping.

It is very significant – their songs about the oppressed people…. A race who can sing these songs like that will cause trouble one of these days.

Freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order.

Dissent is as American as cherry pie.

Writing is a form of activism.

Poetry always, always, always is a key piece of democracy.

To me, protesting and playing music go hand in hand.

I think hip-hop has always been political because this is a community that doesn't have any other choice.