Music and human rights

Learn more about the connection between music, activism, protest and human rights issues

An antique chrome-plated microphone in the centre of the image is encircled by multicoloured rays over a mottled blue and green background. Partially obscured.

In this guide, you will find links to resources that explore, illustrate and examine the connection between music, activism, protest and a variety of human rights issues. They include books and e‑books, magazine articles, journals, newspapers, documentaries and more. For further assistance, please contact the Museum’s Carte International Reference Centre at reference.centre@humanrights.ca.

The Carte International Reference Centre is not responsible for the content of external links. Inclusion of material in this resource guide does not necessarily represent an endorsement of the views expressed. Material is presented in the language in which it was originally produced.

Books

33 revolutions per minute : a history of protest songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day
Lynskey, Dorian. 33 Revolutions Per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day. Ecco, 2011.
Breaking down the walls of heartache : how music came out
Aston, Martin. Breaking Down the Walls of Heartache: How Music Came Out. Backbeat Books, 2017.
Contester par la musique sous régime autoritaire : la politisation du rock au Bélarus
Kryzhanouski, Yauheni. Contester par la musique sous régime autoritaire : la politisation du rock au Bélarus. Éditions du Croquant, 2022.

Decomposed : the political ecology of music
Devine, Kyle. Decomposed: the Political Ecology of Music. The MIT Press, 2019.
Ecomusicology : rock, folk, and the environment
Pedelty, Mark. Ecomusicology: Rock, Folk, and the Environment. Temple University Press, 2012.
Girls to the front : the true story of the Riot grrrl revolution
Marcus, Sara. Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution. HarperPerennial, 2010.
Jours d’insurrection
Alekhina, Marii͡a and Mathilde Ramadier. Jours d’insurrection : Une Pussy Riot témoigne. Éditions du Seuil, 2017.
Music and politics
Street, John. Music and Politics. Polity Press, 2012.
Music and protest
Peddie, Ian. Music and Protest. Ashgate, 2012.
Music Downtown Eastside : human rights and capability development through music in urban poverty
Harrison, Klisala. Music Downtown Eastside: Human Rights and Capability Development Through Music in Urban Poverty. Oxford University Press, 2020.
Playing for Change : Music and Musicians in the Service of Social Movements
Rosenthal, Rob and Richard Flacks. Playing for Change: Music and Musicians in the Service of Social Movements. Paradigm Publishers, 2012.
The politics of punk : protest and revolt from the streets
Ensminger, David A. The Politics of Punk: Protest and Revolt From the Streets. Rowman & Littlefield, 2016.
Popular music and human rights : Vol. 1, British and American music
Peddie, Ian. Popular Music and Human Rights: Vol. 1, British and American Music. Ashgate, 2011.
Popular music and human rights : Vol. 2, world music
Peddie, Ian. Popular Music and Human Rights: Vol. 2, World Music. Ashgate, 2011.
Punk crisis : the global punk rock revolution
Patton, Raymond A. Punk Crisis: The Global Punk Rock Revolution. Oxford University Press, 2018.
Punk revolution! : an oral history of punk rock politics and activism
Malkin, John, editor. Punk Revolution! An Oral History of Punk Rock Politics and Activism. Rowman & Littlefield, 2023.
Rebel music : resistance through hip hop and punk
Parmar, Priya, Anthony J. Nocella, Scott Robertson and Martha Diaz, editors. Rebel Music: Resistance Through Hip Hop and Punk. Information Age Publish, 2015.
Rebel music in the triumphant empire : punk rock in the 1990s United States
Pearson, David. Rebel Music in the Triumphant Empire: Punk Rock in the 1990s United States. Oxford University Press, 2021.
Rebel musics. Volume 1 : human rights, resistant sounds, and the politics of music making
Fischlin, Daniel and Ajay Heble, editors. Rebel Musics. Volume 1: Human Rights, Resistant Sounds, and the Politics of Music Making. Black Rose Books, 2003.
Rebel musics. Volume 2 : human rights, resistant sounds, and the politics of music making
Fischlin, Daniel and Ajay Heble, editors. Rebel Musics. Volume 2: Human Rights, Resistant Sounds, and the Politics of Music Making. Black Rose Books, 2021.
Reds, whites, and blues : social movements, folk music, and race in the United States
Roy, William G. Reds, Whites, and Blues: Social Movements, Folk Music, and Race in the United States. Princeton University Press, 2010.
The resisting muse : popular music and social protest
Peddie, Ian. The Resisting Muse: Popular Music and Social Protest. Ashgate, 2006.
Riot days
Alekhina, Marii︠a︡. Riot Days. Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2017.
The riot grrrl collection
Darms, Lisa, editor.The Riot Grrrl Collection. Feminist Press, 2013.
Riot Grrrls : chronique d'une révolution punk féministe
Labry, Manon. Riot Grrrls : Chronique d’une révolution punk féministe. Zones, 2016
The Routledge companion to music and human rights
Fifer, Julian et al., editors. The Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights. Routledge, 2022.
The Routledge history of social protest in popular music
Friedman, Jonathan C. The Routledge history of social protest in popular music. Routledge, 2017.
Sober living for the revolution : hardcore punk, straight edge, and radical politics
Kuhn, Gabriel. Sober Living for the Revolution: Hardcore Punk, Straight Edge, and Radical Politics. PM Press, 2010.
Sonic rebellion : music as resistance : Detroit 1967 — 2017
Hoffman, Jens et al. Sonic Rebellion: Music as Resistance: Detroit 1967 — 2017. Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 2017.
To live and defy in LA : how gangsta rap changed America
Viator, Felicia Angela. To Live and Defy in LA: How Gangsta Rap Changed America. Harvard University Press, 2020.
Walls come tumbling down : the music and politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge, 1976–1992
Rachel, Daniel. Walls Come Tumbling Down: The Music and Politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge, 1976–1992. Picador, 2017.
We oughta know : how four women ruled the '90s and changed Canadian music
Warner, Andrea. We Oughta Know: How Four Women Ruled the '90s and Changed Canadian Music. Eternal Cavalier Press, 2015.
We're not here to entertain : punk rock, Ronald Reagan, and the real culture war of 1980s America
Mattson, Kevin. We’re Not Here to Entertain: Punk Rock, Ronald Reagan, and the Real Culture War of 1980s America. Oxford University Press, 2020.
Which side are you on? : 20th century American history in 100 protest songs
Sullivan, James. Which Side Are You On? 20th Century American History in 100 Protest Songs. Oxford University Press, 2019.
Yip Harburg : legendary lyricist and human rights activist
Alonso, Harriet Hyman. Yip Harburg: Legendary Lyricist and Human Rights Activist. Wesleyan University Press, 2012.

Articles and Academic Papers

A change is gonna come: a critical analysis of the benefits of musical activism in the civil rights movement
Neal, Erin. “A Change Is Gonna Come: A Critical Analysis of the Benefits of Musical Activism in the Civil Rights Movement.” New Jersey, Rutgers, 2021.
Empowered by Song: The Relationship Between Misa Campesina and Peasant Involvement in Nicaragua's Revolution
Pérez, Mery Angeles. “Empowered by Song: The Relationship Between Misa Campesina and Peasant Involvement in Nicaragua's Revolution.” Guelph, University of Guelph, 2014.
Face the music: Canadian musicians and human rights
Peristerakis, Julia. “Face the music: Canadian musicians and human rights.” Canadian Museum for Human Rights, July 10, 2019.

Hear and Be Heard: Learning With and Through Music as a Dialogical Space for Co‐Creating Youth Led Conflict Transformation
Gottesman, Shoshana. “Hear and Be Heard: Learning With and Through Music as a Dialogical Space for Co‐Creating Youth Led Conflict Transformation.” Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2016.
L’influence de la musique sur les attitudes politiques
Heisbourg, Emmanuel. “L’influence de la musique sur les attitudes politiques.” Montréal, Université de Montréal, 2021.
Losing my Western Baggage: An autobiographical case for relocating human rights within cultural studies discourse
Pearl, Hunt. “Losing my Western Baggage: An autobiographical case for relocating human rights within cultural studies discourse.” Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education, 2007, 2(2), pp. 38–52.
Musical Politics: Protest and Dissent in Aotearoa New Zealand
Booth, Alison Stevens. “Musical Politics: Protest and Dissent in Aotearoa New Zealand.” Cidades: Comunidades e Território, August 2021.
La promotion des droits de la personne par la musique au Canada
Peristerakis, Julia. “La promotion des droits de la personne par la musique au Canada.” Canadian Museum for Human Rights, 10 July 2019.
Re‐articulating Discourse for Indigenous and Environmental Justice: A Study of Nicaragua's Unidos por BOSAWAS Music Festivals
Pérez, Mery Angeles. “Re‐articulating Discourse for Indigenous and Environmental Justice: A Study of Nicaragua's Unidos por BOSAWAS Music Festivals.” Guelph, University of Guelph, 2019.
Remembering Peekskill
Feingold, Joel. “Remembering Peekskill.” Jacobin, Jun. 22, 2017.
Righteous sounds and reproductive justice: the influence of Ani DiFranco's music for reproductive rights activists
Domanski, Anna Lise. “Righteous Sounds and Reproductive Justice: The Influence of Ani DiFranco's Music for Reproductive Rights Activists.” St. Catherines, Brock University, 2008.
“We Can’t Die, We’re With Fela”: The Revolutionary Greatness of the Black President
Pryor, Lex. “‘We Can’t Die, We’re With Fela’: The Revolutionary Greatness of the Black President.” The Ringer, May 4, 2021.

Media Reports

9 Indigenous musicians reflect on what truth and reconciliation means to them
Johnson, Rhiannon and Holly Gordon. “9 Indigenous musicians reflect on what truth and reconciliation means to them.” CBC, September 29, 2021.
6 Queer Artists Using Their Music to Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights
Lehaha, Tshologelo. “6 Queer Artists Using Their Music to Fight for LGBTQ+ Rights.” Global Citizen, June 19, 2023.
L’activisme rock
Ramel, Frédéric. “L’activisme rock.” La vie des idées, January 2, 2023.

Addicted To Plastic? Eco‐Vinyl And The Impact Of Our Listening Habits
Podmore, Jono. “Addicted To Plastic? Eco‐Vinyl And The Impact Of Our Listening Habits.” The Quietus, April 22, 2022.
The artists and writers who sing out for change
French, Philip. “The artists and writers who sing out for change.” The Guardian, September 21, 2008.
A brief evolution of Indigenous protest music
Monture, Lindsay. “A brief evolution of Indigenous protest music.” CBC, July 4, 2017.
Beaten, jailed, exiled and still taunting Putin: inside Pussy Riot’s filthy, furious show
Jeffries, Stuart. “Beaten, jailed, exiled and still taunting Putin: inside Pussy Riot’s filthy, furious show.” The Guardian, November 28, 2022.
Esma Redzepova: 'Queen Of The Gypsies'
Marritz, Ilya. “Esma Redzepova: 'Queen Of The Gypsies'”. NPR, April 5, 2010.
A History of American Protest Music: Which Side Are You On?
Maxwell, Tom. “A History of American Protest Music: Which Side Are You On?” Longreads, August 29, 2018.
How a Black and Jewish punk band defied South African apartheid — and how it came undone
Grisar, PJ. “How a Black and Jewish punk band defied South African apartheid — and how it came undone.” Forward, January 6, 2023.
How Britain’s Red Wedge Tried to Bring Pop Into Politics and Politics Into Pop
Devitt, Liam. “How Britain’s Red Wedge Tried to Bring Pop Into Politics and Politics Into Pop.” Jacobin, June 26, 2021.
How hip‐hop gave voice to a generation of Egyptians hungry for change
El Rashidi, Yasmine. “How hip‐hop gave voice to a generation of Egyptians hungry for change.” The Guardian, July 11, 2023.
How vinyl records are trying to go green
Donnison, Jon. “How vinyl records are trying to go green.” BBC, June 24, 2021.
Music in the Civil Rights Movement
Reagon, Bernice Johson. “Music in the Civil Rights Movement.” PBS, July 2006.
An oral history of Propagandhi’s ‘Oka Everywhere’
Carleton, Sean. “An oral history of Propagandhi’s ‘Oka Everywhere’.” Canadian Dimension, February 4, 2020.
Parental Advisory Forever: An Oral History of the PMRC's War on Dirty Lyrics
Schonfeld, Zach. “Parental Advisory Forever: An Oral History of the PMRC's War on Dirty Lyrics.” Newsweek, September 15, 2019.
Protest music, freedom and truth in America: a conversation with Rodriguez
Warner, Andrea. “Protest music, freedom and truth in America: a conversation with Rodriguez.” CBC, August 9, 2023.
Documentaire Dédé et Patrick : au‐delà des étoiles : Revisiter les Colocs… différemment
Lemieux, Marc‐André. “Documentaire Dédé et Patrick : au‐delà des étoiles : Revisiter les
Colocs… différemment”. La Presse, August 14, 2023.
Rock Against Racism: the Syd Shelton images that define an era
Fox, Killian. “Rock Against Racism: the Syd Shelton images that define an era.” The Guardian, September 6, 2015.
‘We rebel against the system’: inside Soweto’s thriving punk scene
Mahr, Krista. “‘We Rebel Against the System’: inside Soweto’s thriving punk scene.” The Guardian, December 20, 2017.

Documentaries

25 years on, Lilith Fair is a reminder of how one woman's radical idea changed music
Weiner, Lisa. “25 years on, Lilith Fair is a reminder of how one woman's radical idea changed music”. NPR, July 5, 2022.
Alanis Obomsawin back on stage
Alanis Obomsawin remonte sur scène

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