Won't You Say Their Names?

August 13, 2015 8:30 PM

This song is a vessel. It carries the unbearable anguish of millions. We recorded it to channel the pain, fear, and trauma caused by the ongoing slaughter of our black brothers and sisters. We recorded it to challenge the indifference, disregard, and negligence of all who remain quiet about this issue. Silence is our enemy. Sound is our weapon. They say a question lives forever until it gets the answer it deserves ... Won't you say their names? Earlier today, Janelle Monáe and her record label Wondaland Records released the protest song "Hell You Talmbout," after leading a march protesting police brutality in Philadelphia (warning for autoplaying video).

With no accompaniment other than a drumline, Monáe (previously on Metafilter for instant classics Q.U.E.E.N. and Yoga ), and her Wondaland labelmates Jidenna (of Classic Man fame), Roman GianArthur, Deep Cotton, St. Beauty, and George 2.0 chant the names of black men, women, and children murdered by police in this powerful and emotional protest song.

Their names:
Walter Scott
Jerame Reid
Philip White
Eric Garner
Trayvon Martin
Sean Bell
Freddie Gray
Aiyana Jones
Sandra Bland
Kimani Gray
John Crawford
Michael Brown
Miriam Carey
Sharonda Singleton
Emmett Till
Tommy Yancy
Jordan Baker
Amadou Diallo

(via Vulture)

posted by yasaman (26 comments total)

That was powerful, thank you for posting it. So much rightful anger and pain and power coming though. I can imagine how powerful this would be at a protest with a big crowd chanting along.
posted by aka burlap at 8:40 PM on August 13, 2015

This live version might not have the best audio, but damn.
posted by lumensimus at 8:55 PM on August 13, 2015 [5 favorites]

Powerful good stuff. Thanks for posting the links; some of these, I'm sad to say, I didn't even know about.
posted by emjaybee at 8:59 PM on August 13, 2015

Damn.
posted by rtha at 9:06 PM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Yeah, damn was basically my immediate response too. Needless to say, the list of names could be much, much longer.
posted by yasaman at 9:20 PM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Amadou Diallo was shot to death 16 years ago. And still...
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 9:36 PM on August 13, 2015 [3 favorites]

Words can't even convey my respect and admiration for Janelle Monae. Every time I think she couldn't possibly impress me more she does it again. Damn, indeed.
posted by town of cats at 9:37 PM on August 13, 2015 [10 favorites]

That was amazing.
posted by immlass at 9:58 PM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

I saw her perform a free concert on Sunday in Toronto, and wow, she does an incredible live show. She made it a point, near the end, to bring up the issue of police brutality and those who have lost their lives to it, and got an enormous response from the crowd. I can understand why she premiered this after getting back to the US (though we certainly have our own issues with racist police brutality here). I'm so glad I decided to go to the concert; such amazing stage presence and connection with the audience! I hope she makes as big of a difference as she can.
posted by ilana at 10:40 PM on August 13, 2015 [3 favorites]

Thanks for this. I said their names with a lump in my throat.
posted by chococat at 11:00 PM on August 13, 2015

The live performance linked to by lumensimus above was sponsored by Toyota. Good to see them playing both sides of the street, selling Camrys to po-po across the nation and then presenting a brilliant protest song by one of the coolest singers on tour these days.
posted by Purposeful Grimace at 3:07 AM on August 14, 2015

In the context of increasing militarization of police, I'm okay with them driving Camrys, which I think means I'm okay with Toyota selling police Camrys.

This is an incredible and powerful song. Thank you for sharing it.
posted by gauche at 5:50 AM on August 14, 2015

It could be sponsored by a police union for all I care; it would not diminish by one iota the rage, beauty, and power of this song.
posted by sallybrown at 5:57 AM on August 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

This was moving as hell. Thank you.
posted by spindrifter at 6:00 AM on August 14, 2015

This is amazing. Apart from the to-the-minute societal issue, the song feels too big to just be swallowed whole by popular (white) culture. And yet, it sounds like such a fucking hit. I can't help imagining Jimmy Fallon's introduction....and something stirring deep in dark heart of Paul Simon.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:08 AM on August 14, 2015

Live in Times Square (yesterday)

Janelle Monae and Wondaland were on the Today Show today (performing other songs) but apparently were cut off when she started speaking about racial justice issues. I can't find a video of that.
posted by desjardins at 8:53 AM on August 14, 2015

I'm proud to be from KCK (the much, much trashier conjoined twin of Kansas City, Missouri), Janelle Monae's home town. My mother-in-law worked with Ms. Monae's mom, and members of her family live on the same block as me.

To give an idea of what the racial justice situation is here, my first encounter with a uniformed police officer was at the KMart at 78th and State Avenue. I saw the officer apprehend an African-American man, throw him over the hood of a car and repeatedly smash his face into the pavement. My vantage on this occurrence was the back seat of my parents' car. They were inside buying groceries.

Of course in Kansas, we make a huge deal out of calling ourselves "the Free State" and mock Missouri for not joining the Confederacy (and being a slave state). There's a famous stop on the Underground Railroad just a couple miles east of that KMart. For all the pride we Wyandotte Countians take in our history (some of it perhaps justified), the police brutality picture is not improved.

I'm honored to say I come from the same environment that produced an amazing performer and artist like Janelle Monae, and I'm moved beyond words that she has chosen to use her platform to advance the cause of Justice.

Additionally, it's a rockin' song, and I will be blasting it out the car windows everywhere I go for a long time.
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 9:42 AM on August 14, 2015 [6 favorites]

Thanks for posting this.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:42 AM on August 14, 2015

chills and tears
posted by entropone at 10:58 AM on August 14, 2015

Live at the Highline.

Just. Damn.
posted by bunderful at 5:38 PM on August 14, 2015

So, so much respect.
posted by Space Kitty at 6:11 PM on August 14, 2015

Damn. DAMN.

That two-fists-in-the-air gesture that all the artists do near the end of the live video--is that new now or has it been circulating? This is the first time I've seen it. I had goosebumps the whole song, but the moment I realized that gesture was Hands Up Don't Shoot + Black Power, THAT was when the tears came.
posted by hippugeek at 7:29 PM on August 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

.
posted by Legomancer at 5:35 AM on August 16, 2015

Today Show Drowns Out Janelle Monae's Anti-Police Brutality Speech
posted by yasaman at 3:52 PM on August 16, 2015

.

also here to flash my Janelle Monae fanclub card. So much love and respect for her.
posted by greenish at 3:28 AM on August 21, 2015

She performed today in LA and is in San Francisco on Sunday.

I'll be there on Sunday!
posted by gingerbeer at 6:29 PM on August 21, 2015 [2 favorites]