LMG Consciousness Soul Mix: Solidarity Sounds for A Day of Protest

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    As folks around the nation prepare themselves for a National Day of Rage for Ferguson and tweet the hashtag #StandWithFerguson and #PrayForFerguson as rallying cries, in response to the media images of militarized police, tear gassed American citizens, arrested state politicians, and police thwarted national journalists in violation of the First Amendment, I would like to give the protestors and those supporting them today a soundtrack for their peaceful protests against injustice and a lack of transparency (incidentally, by all reports, looting began and ended on Sunday, largely peaceful protests have persisted in the four days since).

    As folks around the nation prepare themselves for a National Day of Rage for Ferguson and tweet the hashtag #StandWithFerguson and #PrayForFerguson as rallying cries, in response to the media images of militarized police, tear gassed American citizens, arrested state politicians, and police thwarted national journalists in violation of the First Amendment, I would like to give the protestors and those supporting them today a soundtrack for their peaceful protests against injustice and a lack of transparency (incidentally, by all reports, looting began and ended on Sunday, largely peaceful protests have persisted in the four days since). A free, all soul mix of conscious sounds created in February for Black History Month is oddly appropriate for what is a time of great pain and anger, one in need of great healing, empathy, justice, listening and mutual understanding.

    Updated versions of Curtis Mayfield, Nina Simone, and Sam Cooke join veterans like Stevie Wonder and Merry Clayton on original songs from the Civil Rights movement era to lace a podcast intended to inspire and offer a sense of hope. Better still is a new generation of artists, both indie and mainstream, sharing their songs of love, peace, protest, harmony, self-actualization, and social consciousness, from Maxwell and Jill Scott to Raheem DeVaughn and Eric Roberson. These are songs that can be righteous in just anger as well as smooth and introspective with peaceful vibes and uplifting messages. Even ally sounds of solidarity from blue-eyed soulsters like Tuomo, Allen Stone, Jonny Lang, Electric Empire and Marc Broussard can be heard on this unique episode of LMG: The Soul Eclectics Consciousness Mix. May these three hours of 40 plus songs of redemption and justice steel your resolve, ease your heart, and lighten your load as your do the work. Stay safe. Stay peaceful. Stay just.

    By L. Michael Gipson

    P.S. This and other free mixes are available through the iTunes and Podomatic apps for download or podcast series subscriptions.