So the other day, I had to take my daughter to school (college) while her car’s air bags were being replaced. Given the 2 hours between me dropping her off and picking her up, I decided to wait in the student union and write instead of leaving and coming back.

While on my way to the building, I was walking behind two young women. They were laughing over a remark their teacher had made. She asked the class if their choice of music addressed any social issues. Both of them sneered at the thought of rap music talking about recycling.

Really?

I’ve read over and over that the millennials don’t consider themselves children of one nation but of the world. But if that were the case, then why didn’t they consider social issues a valid topic for music?

Injustice, hatred, homophobia, bigotry, environmental contamination, and war haven’t stopped and each generation of music should unite people of like mind to work to end these social issues.

So here are a few of my favorite songs the deal with these issues and that brought folks together to deal with them in a positive  and (mostly)  peaceful manner:

War:

Famine:

Farm-aid, concert for America (The man in black was my first crush):

Inequality:

Music has a power all it’s own. Why can’t it be used for more than fun? And whoever decided that raising awareness had to be boring?

Feel free to share your favorite song. Until next time.