19 Songs for the Streets — Flobots (Jonny 5 & Brer Rabbit)
Published March 13, 2018
This week we’re singing and learning with Jonny 5 and Brer Rabbit of the band Flobots. We talk about the role of artists in leadership, their late mentor Dr. Vincent Harding, the role of music in embracing and holding the range of emotions in our movements, comic books and creativity, and crafting our social justice spaces to be places that people deeply want to return to. You’re joining us between soundchecks when they recently performed in Brooklyn on their “Rise + Shine” Tour.
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Read the Transcript
Note: This episode was published under Irresistible’s previous name, Healing Justice Podcast.
About our guests
FLOBOTS
Jonny 5 (James Laurie) & Brer Rabbit (Stephen Brackett) are Denver-based MCs that make up the band Flobots, as well as educators and community leaders. Their recent album, NO ENEMIES, is influenced by stories shared by their longtime mentor and Southern Freedom Movement historian and professor the late Dr. Vincent Harding, and inspired by their grassroots work hosting workshops, classes and keynote speeches about using collective song to build social movements. More at http://www.flobots.com/
Resources
Listen to song recordings & peep Flobots' 'Songs for the Streets' songbook.
Check out Flobots’ latest album, NO EMEMIES.
Their podcast is called Jonny & Brer's Unnamed Friendcast
We refer to Momentum training, where we met. You can sign up for the Momentum email list.
The song we play in the intro is “Handlebars” from Flobots’ 2007 album “Fight with Tools”
Practice: The Sing-Down
Check out the corresponding practice episode to learn how to facilitate a group game called the SINGDOWN. This exercise is designed by Jonny 5 & Brer Rabbit of Flobots to reconnect us with the power of collective song by immersing us in a lighthearted experience of collective singing.
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