One brick in the wall you may be
one voice in the crowd
but without you we are weaker
and our song may not be heard.
One drop in the ocean
but each drop will swell the tide
so be one brick in the wall
be one voice in the crowd.
– Judy Small, One Voice in the Crowd
Cast your mind back eight years. July 2016. A presidential election year.
On this very weekend eight years ago, Hillary Clinton formally accepted the Democratic nomination for president. A week before, Donald Trump had scooped up the Republican nomination.
We did not know then what the future would hold, although the campaign trail provided a guidebook. Donald Trump’s speeches were littered with violent rhetoric and, at times, outright encouragement of violence. (“Knock the crap out of ’em” he urged his supporters at one rally, referring to protesters in the crowd.) His demonizing of migrants, Muslims and other minorities were also indicators that many of us recognized as a harbinger of dire things to come.
To put it mildly, it was a stressful time, especially for those of us who care about justice, about democracy, about the promotion of a peaceful society, about basic human decency.
Full circle
My people, my people
open your eyes
And answer the call of the drum
- Miriam Makeba, A luta continua
And here we are in 2024, with the wisdom of a lived Trump presidency, facing a party and a presidential nominee who are not only promising more of the same, but a doubling down on it. And it seems that the danger is not simply that Trump might win another term in the White House and act on this agenda, which includes a promise to execute everyone on the Federal death row; there’s also a distinct possibility that if he does not win in November, he and his supporters will refuse to accept the result.
Thinking back to those stressful times in 2016, the need for political action by each of us is clear. What is equally necessary, is that we look after ourselves and one another.
Here comes the Justice Train
Remember, we are together always
I won’t let go of your hand
- Bum Joo Kye, Jihoon Lee and Hanggyu Lee, Circles
In the midst of that turbulent 2016, we launched Sister Helen’s Justice Train playlist. It was a small contribution to our collective well-being. That train is still running on the rails!
Music provides both a powerful balm and a spur to action. It was our desire in creating the playlist to provide both those things, as music has done across the years and the miles, from the rebel songs of Ireland to the banned music of apartheid-ridden South Africa to the Civil Rights marches in the American South.
Sister Helen’s Justice Train is filled with music that strengthens us when we need to be brave; lifts up up when we’re feeling lost or helpless; restores our focus to what we’re struggling for and why it’s worth the struggle; reminds us of our own power; and connects us through our common humanity.
Most importantly, Sister Helen’s Justice Train is a collaborative effort which you are invited to join.
Share the music that helps soothe your soul or that stiffens your resolve; dip into the playlist to listen to old favorites or discover new ones.
You’ll find the Justice Train on Sister Helen’s website. Each track on the playlist is linked to a page with the full lyrics, a performance video, and a few words about why the contributor chose the track.
The playlist is also available on Spotify.
Art as balm
How does music or any of the arts play a part in soothing your ruffled soul?
Is there a particular poem you turn to? A book or quote you re-read? Do you get your hands clay coated throwing a pot, or take your camera out to commune with the ducks?
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Mary Oliver, from Wild Geese