Healing and Resistance Through Music

Music transforms our darkest emotions into power, channeling personal pain and anger into healing force and collective strength.

I'm heartbroken. Sad for my two daughters, my wife, our family, our friends, our community, our country, and our planet. While there's much to reflect on, I thought I'd channel my grief through my favorite medium: music!

The world is one great battlefield,
With forces all arrayed;
If in my heart I do not yield,
I'll overcome some day.

The verse above is from Charles Albert Tindley's famous Civil War era hymn "We Shall Overcome" (evolved from a 1901 hymn "I'll Overcome Some Day"). The line "If in my heart I do not yield" makes a powerful statement about inner strength and conviction and to never give up — to maintain one's power. The central message, "I'll overcome some day" speaks to hope and determination — that change may not be immediate but remains inevitable if people stay strong. This song became the rallying call in the Civil Rights Movement, and encapsulated the philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

Mbaqanga group Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje – Johannesburg 1974

African music often comes to mind when thinking of resistance music. The first African songs I heard as a kid were from Paul Simon's Graceland album, which was inspired by South African street music called Mbaqanga. It was apartheid era resistance music, played illegally after the Soweto uprising of 1976. I didn't know that history at the time, I just knew that it was lovely music. I later had the epiphany that some of the most beautiful and uplifting music comes from cultures experiencing deep despair and oppression, while some of the darkest and angriest music comes from communities of abundance, freedom and privilege. 🤔

Music has a magical ability to reduce stress and anxiety by releasing a number of neurochemicals, including: dopamine (pleasure/reward), oxytocin (bonding/trust), serotonin (mood regulator), and endorphins (pain relief), which lowers cortisol levels, reduces blood pressure, and generally makes you feel better! So it's no wonder that music has played a key role in struggles throughout history — serving to preserve cultural stories and traditions, pass messages, and generally keep hope alive.

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Back in June of 2020, when Trump was president, we were experiencing a raging pandemic, and the killing of George Floyd ignited protests around the country, I live-streamed this all-vinyl mix of Civil Rights protest music. The power and beauty of this music gave a generation of people strength and determination to not give up and fight for what they knew was right. These songs are perennial and remain powerful and relevant messages today.

Music transforms our deepest griefs and angers into something both beautiful and powerful. When we create or experience music, we're not just expressing these difficult emotions — we're alchemizing them into something that can change reality. This transformation works on both personal and communal levels. For the individual, music provides a vessel for feelings that might otherwise consume us. For the community, it converts private pain into shared power.

When anger is channeled into artful resistance, it gains a clarity and purpose that raw rage lacks. A protest song can outlive the moment of its creation to inspire generations, turning today's outrage into tomorrow's fuel for change. This isn't about dampening anger - it's about focusing it, like a lens focuses light, into something that can illuminate the path forward.

In solidarity with the free thinkers, dreamers, and seekers of universal truth. Sending love and hugs to you all.

-Ammon

Here's one more mix of African dance music that always lifts my spirits, recorded in 2018 at my friend Joy's lovely backyard party.

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