Impressed by a world refrain towards racism, a Canadian musician is releasing a brand new music this week as a part of an even bigger challenge -- uplifting Black, Indigenous and racialized voices to talk out towards injustice.
On Friday, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Rufus John might be releasing the music Freedom Marching as a part of a charity challenge.
It’s a ardour challenge borne out of collaborating in protests towards anti-Black racism.
“I went via a journey that was lengthy, exhausting, as a result of I needed to be actual,” John instructed CTV Information.
The journey for John started in June 2020, on the solidarity march in Kitchener, Ont., the place hundreds took to the streets to protest racial injustice within the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
“I used to be so impressed by the march, however I additionally left feeling a little bit of disgrace, guilt and embarrassment as a result of I used to be so unaware and uninformed concerning the core of those points, but additionally that I didn’t have a voice within the battle,” John mentioned.
So started a journey of schooling and self-reflection, however as he seemed for assets, John felt there wasn’t a central hub of reliable data.
Then got here the concept to create one himself.
“This useful resource record is talking to Rufus John two years in the past, saying, ‘Hey you don’t have [the] assets, you don’t know who to show to,” he mentioned.
Schooling, artwork and neighborhood are all issues John says are key to combatting racism and galvanizing activism. It’s why he’s began a web site known as the Freedom Marching Undertaking, which is able to use the facility of music to teach.
However he acknowledges not everyone seems to be comfy reaching out for data
“This platform is simply assembly you the place you’re at, wherever you might be in your activism and hopefully it offers you instruments, data and be a part of us on this march to eradicate racism,” he mentioned.
A part of that activism features a 4 music EP that might be launched Friday together with the lead music Freedom Marching. The EP is a collaboration with 40 different artists, impressed by the Black Lives Matter protests that occurred all world wide.
“So many individuals from totally different ethnicities, races, come collectively for my neighborhood, Black, racialized and Indigenous communities, they got here collectively in droves to assist us,” he mentioned.
And now, the Freedom Marching Undertaking is supporting these doing the work in the neighborhood. All proceeds from the music will go to teams preventing racism, oppression and discrimination.
The web site additionally consists of the choice to donate, and has a name out for any musicians who wish to contribute to extra music to get in contact.
With recordsdata from CTVNews.ca's Alexandra Mae Jones
Rufus John is the person behind a brand new musical challenge aiming to teach on racism and injustice: the Freedom Marching Undertaking.
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