By now, hardly anyone should be debating whether or not the summer of 2020 brought one of the biggest Civil Rights movement our generation has seen. Worldwide, peaceful protests from London to Cleveland made headlines for weeks. Of course, the music world was rocked just as much with artists such as Fever 333 and Halsey joining the protests, sharing their stories, and being leading forces in advocating for and with black voices. Artist and activist Otep Shamaya recently streamed Sermons of Fire where she commanded, “say with your chest/until the Earth shatters/Black Lives Matter” and continues to be a fierce advocate for marginalized groups. With the upcoming election, many hope to see the broken system finally get fixed.
Amidst the anger, Vision Arcade of Austin, Texas sets to release their first single in over a year titled “We All Bleed Red” on October 30th. This collaboration with local hip-hop artist, Jony Shelby, hopes to “serve as a message of unification in a much needed time.” The track is certainly a stark contrast to the expectation I personally had. Rather than rage being channeled, “We All Bleed Red” is a soulful reflection on the ongoing social injustice that has been the fabric of American society for centuries. The track is a gentle reminder on why “it’s harmful to silence the people you balance” which may lead to more understanding about why people are angry. Even if they serve as a temporary peace of mind to the rich and powerful, the repeated patterns of oppression and silencing do nothing but stoke the fires, which will eventually lead to the ivory towers tumbling to the ground.
A brief lyric in the song recognizes a woman that “used to have an issue/but now she can’t express herself/because you told her not to” as a way to address several sexist and transphobic standards in regards to what womanhood is. This lyrics calls back to the opening with “open your hearts/and bring your souls” and is yet another example of ways America needs to improve. While 2010s and possibly the 2020s are argued to be the most progressive decades in American history, there are still restrictions enforced on people because of preconceived gender roles as well as reproductive and health rights being interfered with due to greed and need for control.
Human rights should never be a debate topic. Yet, there is a constant state of anxiety among communities in regards to what will happen to their health and safety overall, on top of the daily discrimination they already fight. This song validates the anger while still being gentle in its delivery of the powerful messages weaved throughout the track. It serves as a warning that if “you take the voice from one/you take the voice from all” as a way to discourage ignoring the protests and outrage. At the end of the day, everyone deserves to feel safe in their own homes and out in their neighborhoods.
Thankfully, “We All Bleed Red” is an anthem calling for unity. Among the intensity of the current social climate, this track is a gentle but much needed spotlight for the people who feel cast aside. However, there are always going to be people willing to fight, especially in the music world. Vision Arcade is a band that clearly hopes to be included in the voices advocating for justice through the universal language of music.
Make your voice heard and, please, stay safe, friends.
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