Thread by @RevDrBarber

Join us online tonight at 7pm ET for “Soundtrack of the Struggle: Using Music to Build the Moral Fusion Movement”! #MoralMovement #ForwardTogether

Watch: breachrepairers.org/livestream

“In order to seize the day, we need what the Kerner Commission called ‘new will’ from the American people.” —Dr. Alan Curtis #PoorPeoplesCampaign #ThirdReconstruction #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

Thank you to the @MellonFdn and Dr. Alan Curtis and the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation for their support of tonight’s #SoundtrackoftheStruggle livestream event.

Join us online now: breachrepairers.org/livestream

There has never been a moral movement that did not have a rhythm or music. Sometimes the pain is so great, you have to sing it before you can say it.

In the #PoorPeoplesCampaign, we have many battle hymns: “Everybody’s Got a Right to Live.” “Make Them Hear You.” “Hold On Just a Little While Longer.” #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

“You can see how we have come together through and with song. ... Folks are united in our message and in this battle hymn.” @LizTheo #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

“I can find nothing that has united us in this movement like the song and the songs.” @LizTheo #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

🎶 I am not afraid
I am not afraid
I will die for liberation
’cause I know why I was made 🎶

#PoorPeoplesCampaign
#SoundtrackoftheStruggle

“We make sure that the music is always in sync with the message of the movement.” theomusicologist @BRepairers @allen_yara #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

“Where these songs come from is from these struggles. ... All of us have to lift our voices ... to create ‘one band and one sound.’” theomusicologist @Kairos_Center @CharonHribar #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

🎶 The US Postal Service
direly needs a helping hand 🎶
@JoeTroopMusic

#PoorPeoplesCampaign
#SoundtrackoftheStruggle

Spirit — to inspire means to literally put spirit in them, to put courage in them.

We wouldn’t have even heard “I Have a Dream” if not for Mahalia Jackson. She knew that Dr. King needed to preach that word on that day. #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

🎶 Up over my head
I see justice in the air
Up over my head
I see justice in the air
And I really do believe,
I said I really do believe
that change is coming out there 🎶

#PoorPeoplesCampaign
#SoundtrackoftheStruggle

Jon Michael Spencer is the professor who came up with the term “theomusicology.” I heard him speak at Duke University. A theomusicologist can’t just be a good singer. They have to be a part of the movement. They have to have the “anointing,” if you will.

🎶 Somebody’s hurting my brother
and it’s gone on far too long
And we won’t be silent anymore
Somebody’s hurting my sister
and it’s gone on far too long
And we won’t be silent anymore 🎶

—original song by @allen_yara

#PoorPeoplesCampaign
#SoundtrackoftheStruggle

There are some moments where there can be no talking, only a song.

As we begin to talk about a #ThirdReconstruction, @IAmLaMonique Hamilton leads into a discussion of the music of the movement during the first and second reconstructions. #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

.@CharonHribar reminds us that Dr. King called out the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” in his final speech: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

“This IS my grandmama’s movement, and my mama’s movement, and I suspect it will be my grandson’s movement.” @allen_yara #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

🎶 Love is here
Hope is here
Truth is here
We are the change 🎶

#PoorPeoplesCampaign
#SoundtrackoftheStruggle

“What led the people out of Egypt? Out of Pharaoh’s control? It was Miriam and that song.” @LizTheo #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

In the movement, we get tempted to compromise and capitulate. And then we go among the people, and they’re saying, “NO WAR!” Not “Well maybe a little bit of war.” So the songs help you sing yourself back to your place of courage and idealism.

Songs are oftentimes ahead of us. Maybe the song can see in a way we can’t see with our physical eyes.

🎶 Aint gonna let nobody
turn me around - no!
turn me around - no!
I’m gonna keep on walking
keep on talking
Marching up to Freedomland 🎶

#PoorPeoplesCampaign
#SoundtrackoftheStruggle

.@IAmLamonique asks, “Where will the music take us in the future as we build a Third Reconstruction?” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle #ThirdReconstruction

.@CharonHribar talks about how our hearts begin to beat in sync when we sing together. Music is one of the powerful things that brings us together across lines of difference. #ForwardTogether #PoorPeoplsCampaign #SoundtrackoftheStruggle

.@allen_yara is talking about one of our 14 principles of moral fusion organizing: using all social media platforms available to us to spread the message and shift the narrative.

Which reminds me, are you following me on TikTok? tiktok.com/@revdrbarber

🎶 When I rise, he will have my eyes
When I rise, she will have my eyes
Lord, let them have easy lives
I’m goin’ away
I’ll be back some old day
Please don’t move where I lay 🎶

#PoorPeoplesCampaign
#SoundtrackoftheStruggle