GrassRoots Picnic: The Organics of Musical Movements

Welcome to 1919 Radio! On today’s episode, we discuss the 2021 documentary film, “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” a film screened at the 1919 Calgary office earlier this year. Introducing a couple new voices to the fold (Deng, Nate, and Ty), our main discussion asks the question, “how art affects political consciousness,” and how that informs the role of Black artists in our past, present, and future.

Later, Nate puts us on to Larry June, a Bay-area rapper with a health-conscious kick. Labelled a “lifestyle rapper,” we explore what this subgenre of hip-hop means to him, allowing us to further examine the a Black artist’s role and their actionable efforts. Lastly, Ty and Deng talk about their thoughts on the discussion, their introductions to 1919, and reflect on how their worldviews have been impacted through these cultural works.

Title sequence credits:

Introduction clip: Angela Davis on Democracy Now!
Second clip: Sister Souljah response to Bill Clinton
Third clip: Kwame Ture on Organization and mobilization Song: The Pharcyde - Runnin'