Artist: Various Artists
Album: Raise Your Voice! The Sound of Student Protest
Label: Little Village Foundation
Release Date: 10.05.2018
Brought to you by The Little Village Foundation, Raise Your Voice! The Sound of Student Protest offers a multitude of voices and thoughts. From the track “Freedom,” by Nina Lee, to the very impressive music class at John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School with their song “The Truth,” the shared sentiment of change and loss is persistent throughout the album. Some songs are by students and some are not, but all have been inspired to contribute to this cause. Some have even been personally affected by one of the many recent school shootings in our nation. “Little Princess,” by Tyler Suarez, has heartfelt words about his aunt, whose life was lost in the Sandy Hook tragedy. “Renegades,” by Amalia Fleming, speaks of change with lyrics like “We can’t be giving up now, we’re the last generation to change…” and about saving the world. One could make the mistake of thinking that lyrics like these might be heavy-handed coming from people so young, but who can blame them, given all that has happened recently?
The voices come from across the country, and they speak not only to the helplessness and anger that has boiled to the surface, but also to the sense of duty felt by many on the topic of safety in schools. As these students intelligently gather to voice their concerns about the societies we live in, we are witness to their capabilities, passion, grace and maturity. People everywhere have been quick to join in on what seems to be the fight of their generation, and together they are forcing the issue of gun safety to be at the forefront of the nation’s attention.
In times of tragedy one can bend, break or even rise, but these students are coping by creating and sharing the fight for change they so desperately need—and they’re doing it with music.
—Elizabeth Lind
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