Artists from across the Upstate are coming together to create music with meaning for the Black Lives Matter movement. Written and directed by Prancton Beacon Williams, “The freedom Song” expresses the past 300-plus years of struggle and oppression that the African American community has faced, beginning with slavery. “I think right now we’re at a point in American history where we need to come together and have dialogue,” Williams told WYFF News 4. “I think it’s a conversation that I’m glad we’re having now … about what people have been through, because I can see your condition but there’s always a story behind a person’s condition.” Williams said that around 400 radio stations across the country have already expressed interest in airing “The Freedom Song.”“There’s a ton of good, white people that have just been misinformed,” Williams said. “And we would be crazy if we don’t educate them about who we are, where we’re from and what we’re about.” Smitha Lee is filming and co-directing the music video with Williams. “We’re using music itself to sell a message of hope. That’s what we’re trying to do,” Lee said. “At the end of the day, whatever you’re going through, there’s hope as long as you keep going forward.” The powerful song was born out of tragedy: The killing of George Floyd last month at the hands of police officers. The lyrics speak to the reality that many in the black community feel they are facing today. “I’m raising a black son and I’m terrified//It’s 2020 and we’re facing a genocide//On top of that we killing each other on the same side//many black men are committing suicide” Through song, Williams, Lee and the other artists are hoping to tell their own story. And bring more healing and unity into the Upstate and world.
Artists from across the Upstate are coming together to create music with meaning for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Written and directed by Prancton Beacon Williams, “The freedom Song” expresses the past 300-plus years of struggle and oppression that the African American community has faced, beginning with slavery.
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“I think right now we’re at a point in American history where we need to come together and have dialogue,” Williams told WYFF News 4. “I think it’s a conversation that I’m glad we’re having now … about what people have been through, because I can see your condition but there’s always a story behind a person’s condition.”
Williams said that around 400 radio stations across the country have already expressed interest in airing “The Freedom Song.”
“There’s a ton of good, white people that have just been misinformed,” Williams said. “And we would be crazy if we don’t educate them about who we are, where we’re from and what we’re about.”
Smitha Lee is filming and co-directing the music video with Williams.
“We’re using music itself to sell a message of hope. That’s what we’re trying to do,” Lee said. “At the end of the day, whatever you’re going through, there’s hope as long as you keep going forward.”
The powerful song was born out of tragedy: The killing of George Floyd last month at the hands of police officers.
The lyrics speak to the reality that many in the black community feel they are facing today. “I’m raising a black son and I’m terrified//It’s 2020 and we’re facing a genocide//On top of that we killing each other on the same side//many black men are committing suicide”
Through song, Williams, Lee and the other artists are hoping to tell their own story. And bring more healing and unity into the Upstate and world.
