Rise Up and Sing!: Power, Protest, and Activism in Music

by Andrea Warner, Louise Reimer (Illustrator)

Overview

This inspiring introduction to activism and social justice for young teens shows the important role music plays in changing the world, featuring:

• Musicians young teens will know and love: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Lil Nas X, and more!
• Iconic artists from past generations: readers will learn about the extraordinary impact of artists such as Nina Simone, Neil Young, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Tracy Chapman, and more.
• Playlists for each social justice issue: Each chapter includes a playlist with recommended songs about an area of activism, from classic tracks to contemporary hits.

In Rise Up and Sing!, Andrea Warner explores how music has contributed to the fight for social justice. Across eight areas of activism—the climate emergency, Indigenous rights, civil rights, disability rights, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, the peace/anti-war movement, and human rights—Warner introduces some of the artists, past and present, who have made a difference both on stage and off.

Through ground-breaking artists and iconic moments, Rise Up and Sing! shows us that a song is never just a song, and that music really does have the power to change the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781778402159
Publisher:	Greystone Books
Publication date:	09/17/2024
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Andrea Warner (she/her) writes and talks. A lot. She's the author of Buffy Sainte-Marie: The Authorized Biography and We Oughta Know: How Four Women Ruled the '90s and Changed Canadian Music. She’s the co-writer and associate producer of the 2022 documentary Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On and co-hosts the weekly feminist pop culture podcast Pop This!. She lives in Vancouver, BC.

Louise Reimer is a freelance illustrator and artist. She grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, and loves textiles, the 1970s, and going for hikes.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Talkin’ Bout a Revolution

Earth Revolution
Climate Justice, the Environment, and Land Back

Indigenous Existence Is Resistance
Decolonization and Indigenous Rights

Fight the Power
Liberation, Civil Rights, and Racial Justice

Nothing About Us Without Us
Accessibility, Acceptance, and Disability Rights

I Was Born This Way
Pride, Protest, and 2SLGBTQIA+ Rights

Respect
Gender Equality, Nonbinary Folks, and Inclusive Feminism

Give Peace a Chance
The Anti-War Movement and the Dream of Peace

Stand By Me
Human Rights, Dignity, Liberty, and Equality

Acknowledgments
Further Reading
Selected Sources
Photo Credits
Index
About the Author and Illustrator

Editorial Reviews

"Warner takes us on a musical tour of how music has been used for protesting throughout recent history…. will help its young target audience relate."
—Kiss the Book Jr.

“A thoughtful and detailed showcase of revolutionary movements, admirable individuals, and rich music—past and present—makes for a playlist-cum-book of activism as undoubtedly educational as it is exciting to hear.”
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, STARRED

“Illuminates the tremendous impact of activist artists and songs on individuals, communities, and social movements both past and present.”
—Kirkus Reviews

"This graphics-rich offering surveys protest movements and celebrates the songs and performances that publicized, empathized, and inspired both activists and members of the general public ... Thoughtful, accessible essays provide social background while introducing songwriters and performers associated with eight areas of activism ... Expect lots of interest, humming, and sing-alongs."
—Booklist STARRED Review

“Music is often so bound up with being a teenager. So is rebellion. Rise Up and Sing! will amplify those intimate relationships by showing young people just how powerful music has always been in creating action and change.”
—Tanya Boteju, author of Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens

"An incredible and vital celebration of how music can shape and transform activist movements, Rise Up and Sing! is both thought-provoking and inspiring. Warner proves to be a deft writer who has so much passion for her source material and delivers a powerful guide to some of music’s most pivotal moments and artists, highlighting their impact on climate justice, racial and gender equality, and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. This is a terrific and visually gorgeous resource, appealing to readers of all ages."
—Lindsay Wong, author of The Woo-Woo and Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality

From the Publisher

2023-08-11
Illuminates the tremendous impact of activist artists and songs on individuals, communities, and social movements both past and present.

As the global demand for social change expands, the need for protest music has only grown. The book’s eight chapters focus on climate justice; gender equality; peace movements; and Indigenous, racial, disability, LGBTQ+, and general human rights. To signify that musicians often address multiple issues in their songs, the book uses symbols—a globe icon for climate justice and a sun symbol for Indigenous rights—which are introduced in the table of contents and repeated later, where relevant, next to each artist’s name. Each chapter opens with an overview of the topic and goes on to include notable musicians, information about specific songs and videos that have made an impact, a suggested playlist, and three thought-provoking discussion questions. A broad range of talent is represented, from artists with decades of fame like Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, and Aretha Franklin, to newer stars like Billie Eilish, Beyoncé, and Lizzo, and many others who are less commonly known. There is also significant racial, national, and ethnic diversity, notably many Indigenous voices. The colorful illustrations and photographs break up the heavy text. This volume would serve as an excellent resource for readers already deeply interested in the subject matter; due to the evocative song descriptions, it could also whet the appetite of casual browsers.

An inspiring deep dive into the history of activist music. (further reading, endnotes, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews