Since there has been music, there has been songs protesting about the condition of man. Moses declaring to Pharoah “Let my people go” may have been the first protest song recorded, starting a long tradition of people singing to be free. The freedom may be from oppressors either external or internal, as the albums by Kendrick Scott and Antonio Sanchez have demonstrated.
Here is a short list of songs or albums that capture the spirit. As the song says, “Lift every voice and sing!”
Louis Armstrong: “(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue”- It’s ironic that Louis Armstrong was criticized during his career for being an “Uncle Tom,” as he was one of the very first black artists to sing a song of protest regarding racial mistreatment. His reading of “Black and Blue” may at times sound lighthearted, but that’s what makes the delivery so poignant.
Billie Holiday: “Strange Fruit”-Possibly the most gripping song about racism, this poem about a lynching 
by Abel Meeropol set to a dirge-like support is still as haunting and gripping as when it was first delivered.
John Coltrane: “Alabama”-this penetrating piece comes after the famed 1963 March on Alabama, and it reflects the urgency of the times.
Max Roach: We Insist! Max Roach’s and Freedom Now Suite: Mixing poetry by Abbey Lincoln and rich Afro Cuban pulses, this album is an urgent message, 
highlighted by the unforgettable three part “Tryptich: Prayer, Protest, and Peace.” His followup Percussion Bitter Sweet is just as viscerally astute.
Terence Blanchard: A Tale of God’s Will-Trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard has released numerous albums with social content, but none were more gripping than this album in response to the political implications of the treatment of 
Hurricane Katrina. Blanchard balances a message with voices and deep melodies that says more than 100 political speeches.
Charles Mingus: “Fables of Faubus” and “Free Cell Block F, ‘Tis Nazi USA” -you 
could make an argument that every song that Mingus did was some sort of a protest, but these two pieces are the most obvious. Mingus even sings on one version of “Fables” about the notorious governor, while the song about the prison system climaxes into an almost cell block riot.
Dee Dee Bridgewater: Red Earth-More of a journey than a protest, this ambitious album is a paean to 
Mali and Africa, including a rich version of Nina Simone’s “Four Women.” Overlooked and highly underrated.
Gil Scott-Heron: “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”-Beat singer Gil Scott Heron was ahead of his time when he recorded this piece on his 1970 debut album that 
bespoke of the irrelevance of “fake news” and American materialism.
Duke Ellington: “Black, Brown and Beige” and “First Sacred Concert”-Duke Ellington focused on large scale ambitious works the latter part of his career. His ground breaking BB&B melded love for America with a proud statement regarding African Americans. The classic song “Come Sunday” was debuted at this 1943 
concert, and was revived at the Sacred Concert, which was a protest against Satan and a declaration for God.
Charlie Haden: Liberation Music Orchestra and Ballad of the Fallen-These two freer form albums give an emotional mix of folk music and protest regarding the 
Spanish Civil War, the Vietnam War and revolutions in El Salvador, Portugal and Chile
Roxy Coss: The Future is Female-Saxist Roxy Coss addresses the #MeToo movement with this album of 
empowerment.
Delfeayo Marsalis: Make America Great Again!-You can take this album as either 
an ironic slap or a fun celebration of our present administration. Isn’t that what’s so great about America after all?