Black Lives Matter releases a mixtape | What's Left
Music continues to accompany the movements on the left. In many ways, it is music that helps unite the struggles for social justice.
Black Lives Matter Toronto has released a mixtape for all your listening pleasure and it includes a great track about the closure of the Palisades Media Arts Academy called “Bring PMAA Back”. The song chronicles the unionization struggle of workers at the San Romanoway Revitalization Association. The effort included a lengthy litigation at the Ontario Labour Relations Board which is referenced in the song. You can read about it in the Toronto Star article as well as the Ontario Labour Relations Board’s scathing decision below.
A music video for Bring PMAA Back is in the works, so stay tuned.
Music: Bring PMAA Back by The Real Sun, Malik Al Nisar , Beny Esguerra , Lightnin’ Rod
Listen to BLMTO’s mix here (with background): Toronto Black City Mixtape
Story: Jane-Finch Palisades music program closes amid union battle
OLRB Decision: Canadian Union of Public Employees v. San Romanoway Revitalization Association
In the music scene south of the border, there is an interesting read on the intersection of Hip Hop and the Black Lives Matter movement Alexander Billet wrote for In these Times. And, Bernie Sanders got to introduce Run the Jewels at Coachella. Sanders owed Killer Mike the favour because Killer Mike has been introducing Sanders by giving rousing speeches all through his campaign.
Article: The New Anthems of Resistance: Hip-Hop and Black Lives Matter