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The good news is that the election is over. The bad news is that the election is over. Many people are concerned about the direction the government will take in the next four years. There is always worry about how the economy will be affected with a new platform in place, but this year it’s even more so. Just remember that the wheels of government turn slowly. There’s a reason America has three branches of government. It’s important for each of us to get involved in our communities and government. Know your representatives and leaders. Become an activist and fight for civil rights for all. And know that our country has a long history of political activism.

Tap into this list of protest songs to find encouragement in moving forward Post-Election:

1. “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday (1939) – This song protested the lynching of black Americans. It’s one of the most important songs of the 20^th If you’ve never listened to the original version, find it on the internet and see how it inspired other famous works.
2. “Deportee” by Woody Guthrie (1948) – Guthrie might best be remembered for his folk song “This Land Is Your Land,” but he wrote many political protest songs. “Deportee” deals with the racial mistreatment of migrant workers who were being deported to Mexico.
3. “If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)” by The Weavers (1950) – The more popular version of the song was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary many years later. “The Hammer Song” was written in support of a progressive movement that considered overthrowing the American government. It was quite controversial, but we can remember the lyrics today: “It’s the hammer of Justice / It’s the bell of Freedom / It’s the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters.”
4. “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan (1963) – Dylan produced many protest songs, but this one is probably the most well-known. He poses rhetorical questions that make the listener think about freedom, peace and war.
5. “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds (1965) – The words for this international hit were taken from the book of Ecclesiastes. It’s a song that pleads for peace and love instead of war and hate that became popular as the Vietnam War waged forward.
6. “Respect” by Otis Redding (1965) – “Respect” would go on to become Aretha Franklin’s signature song, but Redding did it first. Franklin added the chorus and made the song about a strong, confident woman.
7. “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley (1980) – This tune is probably the most influential song in Jamaican history. The song deals with the threat of nuclear war and slavery. “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; / None but ourselves can free our minds. / Have no fear for atomic energy, / ‘Cause none of them can stop the time.”
8. “Okie from Muskogee” by Merle Haggard (1969) – During the Vietnam protests, many were disparaging the troops who were serving their country. The song was thought to be satirical or humorous, but it is a protest song about alternate lifestyles.
9. “Machine Gun” by Jimi Hendrix (1970) – This song also protested the Vietnam War, but from the opposite side as Haggard. It’s a haunting song with such lyrics as “Machine gun, tearin’ my body all apart / Evil man make me kill you, evil man make you kill me.”

The United States has stood through many difficulties. The American Civil War pitted brother against brother in some cases. McCarthyism destroyed the careers of many in fear of communism. And yet the government still works. Yes, there may be some dark times ahead in the area of civil rights, but we have to trust the system to protect the rights that have been gained.