Music is such a powerful thing. It’s a great antidote to sadness, loneliness, and apathy, and long been a tool of creative protest. When I first put together this playlist of social justice songs, my 8 year old and I would listen to a couple of the songs each morning as we start our homeschool day, or when he was drawing. Now that he’s a teen, there’s no way he would still take a dance party break with me, but these songs are great for that too.
Now, I’ve updated the playlist with many more songs I’ve discovered. You can get the link to the playlist on Spotify, along with a list of great picture books that pair with these protest and social justice songs right here.
I’d like to offer special thanks to Britt Hawthorne and other members of the Montessori for Social Justice community who helped me discover a number of these songs.
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Protest and social justice songs for kids that are easy to sing
“We Shall Overcome” by the Boys Choir of Harlem
“We Shall Overcome” is one of the most memorable movement songs for good reason, and its repetition makes it a wonderful first social justice song to teach children.
“This Train” by Ella Jenkins
Ella Jenkins has rightly been called “the first lady of children’s folk song.” Many of her albums feature social justice songs for (and sung by) children, while others are playful tunes.
Because our family has been talking about enslavement and the Underground Railroad a lot lately, “This Train” has been in frequent rotation at our house, along with some of the other songs on the album You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song.
“Redemption Song” by Bob Marley and the Wailers
“Redemption Song” is one of Marley’s most well-known songs. This anthem draws on the words of Marcus Garvey, telling listeners to “emancipate yourself from mental slavery/None but ourselves can free our minds.”
This song can be found on B is for Bob album, which Ziggy Marley compiled as a way to share his father’s music with children.
Related Post: 11 anti-bias and social justice podcasts for kids
“We Shall Not Be Moved” by Mavis Staples
I first learned this song as an organizer in the worker rights movement, and it’s a great pick for discussing the power of labor unions and worker solidarity. The image of “a tree that’s planted by the water” is taken from Psalm 1, so the song is also a good choice for faith-based settings.
“Solartopia” by Pete Seeger and Dar Williams
The first time we listened to Seeger’s Tomorrow’s Children album, my 8 year old became obsessed with this song about green energy. Seeger was a true troubadour for justice and peace, whose music was backed up by his activism.
Although almost all of Seeger’s music is appropriate for children, I particularly like the Tomorrow Children’s album because children are singing with him, and some of the songs include him teaching kids the lyrics. This makes them perfect for morning meetings and circle time.
Related Post: 9 ways kids can protect the planet
Never struggle to find the right diverse or social justice book again with my Anti-Bias Children’s Book Database!
“I’m Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table” by Bill Harley and Wazir Peacock
Whenever our spirits have become bogged down by the injustice that’s everywhere, I listen to the I’m Gonna Let It Shine album. My spirits are always lifted by the civil rights songs on the album, especially “I’m gonna sit at the welcome table.” This is a wonderful song to teach children about embracing hope while we struggle for justice.
“Wavin’ Flag” by K’naan
This song has been a favorite in our house ever since we read K’naan’s book When I Get Older: The Story Behind Wavin’ Flag, about his childhood in Somalia.
The song expresses his hopes of freedom for refugees and the people of Somalia, while also exploring the power that young people have.
“Step by Step” by Sweet Honey in the Rock
“Step by step, the longest march can be run,” this historic song from the labor movement reminds us. There are so many versions of this song, by the simple and starkly beautiful version by Sweet Honey in the Rock is my favorite. It’s also a very easy song to teach even young children because there aren’t many lyrics.
“Be a Pain” by Alaistair Moock
While the verses of this social justice song might be a little much for children to learn, the chorus is very sing-able. One of the keys to raising kids who will speak up against injustice is showing them that it’s okay to upset people if it’s for a good reason.
There’s also a lot of movement history packed into this short song, including civil rights, the March for our Lives, feminism, and much more.
Kid-friendly social justice songs for listening and dancing
“A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
The orchestral swell at the beginning of the song lets listeners know something heartfelt and special is about to be sung. This anthem about the pain of racism and Jim Crow segregation still manages to exude hope.
“Barbed Wire Between Us” by Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou
Daria wrote this song to accompany Mia Wenjen’s new children’s books, Barbed Wire Between Us,. The book brings together the stories of Japanese American children in prison camps during World War II with the plight of children in immigration detention today.
“If I Was President” by Las Cafeteras
This is the perfect song to awaken kids’ imaginations about how they would work for justice if they were President. This tune is part hip-hop and part Mexican folk music, and imagines a world where education is truly free and 3 strikes laws no longer keep Black and Brown people in prison.
“We Royal” by Alphabet Rockers
Do yourself a favor and purchase the entire album The Love by Alphabet Rockers. I treasure every song on this Grammy nominated, justice-themed hip hop exploration of queer liberation, Black liberation, and honoring the land the artists occupy. Youth are an active part of not only performing the social justice songs the Alphabet Rockers are known for; they also frequently help create the songs.
“We Royal” encourages kids to hear the stories of trans, gender non-conforming, and two spirit heroes. It’s also great for dancing!
Be sure to check out resources for activist kids.
“Glory” by Common and John Legend
This theme song from Ava Duvernay’s Selma moves me every time I listen to it. It’s an excellent addition to lessons on the civil rights movement and the struggle for voting rights.
Related Post: More than Martin – 15 children’s books about the civil rights movement
“Young People Marching (for Greta Thunberg)” by Raffi
This social justice song by beloved children’s musician Raffi pays tribute to Greta Thunberg and all the young people who have participated in the climate strike protests. It’s a great pick for budding environmentalists, and it shows the power that young people hold when they take action together.
“When Will We Be Paid” by The Staple Singers
This classic social justice song can be used to explore many issues with children, from enslavement and reparations to living wage jobs to perhaps even the unpaid emotional labor white people often except people of color to do.
Related Post: 21 powerful books about race and racism for kids and teens
“Free to Be You and Me” by The New Seekers
As a Gen X parent who wants my boys to never feel confined by their gender – or confine others – I had to include this classic!
When the Ms. Foundation released the Free to Be…You and Me album in 1974, there weren’t many messages encouraging children to reject gender stereotypes. I love the celebratory feel of the title track!
“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” by James Brown
Long before the present-day Black Lives Matter movement, there was a movement for Black Pride and Black Power. I love the chorus of children who sing along with Brown on this song!
“No Es Mi Presidente” by Taina Asili y La Banda Rebelde
This Latine/x song of protest against Donald Trump is so powerful. If like me, you don’t speak Spanish, you can read the translated lyrics here.
No matter who is in office, children need to hear songs of resistance like this one. As Asili reminds us, it is the work of her ancestors to fight injustice.
“I’ll Rise” by Ben Harper
This beautiful song based on a poem by Maya Angelou is one of my all-time favorite songs. My 8 year old and I listened to it last week on Black Poetry Day. The lyrics proclaim the dignity of Black women, no matter how many lies are told about them, or how many injustices they face.
Get the link to my social justice songs for kids playlist on Spotify, plus a list of children’s books to pair with the songs!
