Saturday, Openfit (my current fitness fav) after donating $1 million to the NAACP, held a seven live Unity Walks on their platform.
Openfit members across the globe walked virtually together with a trainer speaking about and encouraging action for racial equality and equity. The playlist for the walk included uplifting songs that speak to the African-American experience, interspersed with audio segments of Dr. Martin Luther King delivering his “I Have A Dream” speech.
It was powerful and moving (there were some tears) – a great way to continue to take action, raise awareness… and funds. (Openfit is donating an additional $5 for every mile logged in these Unity walks that continue to be available throughout this week.)
Check excerpts below from Dr. King’s speech and a few of the songs in the playlist. These words – calls for freedom and justice, some penned decades ago, still ring today.
I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. (with subtitles)
“We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now.
This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.
Now is the time (Yes it is) to make real the promises of democracy. (My Lord)
Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.
Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.
Now is the time (Yes) (Now) to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.”
Glory by Common and John Legend
“The movement is a rhythm to us
Freedom is like religion to us
Justice is juxtapositionin’ us
Justice for all just ain’t specific enough
One son died, his spirit is revisitin’ us
Truant livin’ livin’ in us, resistance is us
That’s why Rosa sat on the bus
That’s why we walk through Ferguson with our hands up…
One day when the glory comes
It will be ours, it will be ours
Oh one day when the war is won
We will be sure, we will be sure
Oh glory (Glory, glory)”
Revolution by Arrested Development
“It’s raining revolution
…Let it rain, take my pain, I’m glad to meet you
Fill my eyes with a colorful rainbow
Every drop hits me, fills me
With an unmeasurable amount of security
Knowing my God acknowledges me
As if each drop of rain is aimed toward me
My Lord thanks for life thanks for my rain
My Lord thanks for life thanks for my rain
It’s raining revolution”
Say it Loud/ I’m Black and I’m Proud by James Brown
“Say it louder! I’m black and I’m proud
Look a-here!
Some people say we got a lot of malice, some say it’s a lotta nerve
But I say we won’t quit movin’ until we get what we deserve
We’ve been buked and we’ve been scourned
We’ve been treated bad, talked about as sure as you’re born
But just as sure as it take two eyes to make a pair, huh!
Brother we can’t quit until we get our share
Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud
Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud
One more time, say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud, huh!
Freedom by Beyonce with Kendrick Lamar
“I’ma wade, I’ma wave through the waters
Tell the tide, “Don’t move”
I’ma riot, I’ma riot through your borders
Call me bulletproof
Lord forgive me, I’ve been runnin’
Runnin’ blind in truth
I’ma wade, I’ma wave through your shallow love
Tell the deep I’m new
I’m telling these tears, go and fall away, fall away
May the last one burn into flames
Freedom”
Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing by Beyonce (Homecoming Live)
“Lift every voice and sing (Ah!)
‘Til earth and heaven ring (Ah!)
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty
Let our rejoicing rise (Ah!)
High as the listening skies (Ah!)
Let us march on ’til victory is won”
I pray and believe the racial justice awareness and activity we are seeing in the world today is not a moment but a movement that will bring significant change.
Let’s keep the movement energized. Music is a powerful help.
What song(s) would you add to your #BlackLivesMatter playlist? Drop titles in the comments.