In this practice, you’ll learn how to facilitate a group game called the SINGDOWN. This exercise is designed by Jonny 5 & Brer Rabbit of Flobots to reconnect us with the power of collective song by immersing us in a lighthearted experience of collective singing. Follow along with the facilitator guide Jonny 5 wrote for us here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-WUwdQ6qQtFap00yhYWnZMpmmijJisT3ywfkSOPmNbw/edit?usp=sharing

Download the corresponding conversation (episode 19) titled “Songs for the Streets” to learn more about how this can translate into powerful songs for direct action. We talk about the role of artists in leadership, the Flobots’ late mentor Dr. Vincent Harding, the role of music in embracing and holding the range of emotions in our movements, comic books and creativity, and crafting our social justice spaces to be places that people deeply want to return to.

RESOURCES:

Facilitator guide for leading the singdown: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-WUwdQ6qQtFap00yhYWnZMpmmijJisT3ywfkSOPmNbw/edit?usp=sharing
Listen to song recordings & peep Flobots’ ‘Songs for the Streets’ songbook at http://www.flobots.com/singdown
Check out Flobots’ latest album, NO ENEMIES: http://www.flobots.com/music/
Their podcast is called Jonny & Brer’s Unnamed Friendcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonny-brers-unnamed-friendcast/id1285472158?mt=2
This exercise is often facilitated at Momentum movement building trainings as part of a module Stephen designed called "When Did We Stop Singing?" You can sign up for their email list at www.momentumcommunity.org

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ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Jonny 5 (James Laurie) & Brer Rabbit (Stephen Brackett) are Denver-based MCs that make up the band Flobots, as well as educators and community leaders. Their recent album, NO ENEMIES, is influenced by stories shared by their longtime mentor and Southern Freedom Movement historian and professor the late Dr. Vincent Harding, and inspired by their grassroots work hosting workshops, classes and keynote speeches about using collective song to build social movements. More at http://www.flobots.com/

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

Sign up for the email list at www.healingjustice.org

Social media: Instagram @healingjustice, Healing Justice Podcast on Facebook, & @hjpodcast on Twitter

This podcast is 100% volunteer-run. Help cover our costs by becoming a sponsor at www.patreon.com/healingjustice

THANK YOU:

Editing by Yoshi Fields
Mixed and produced by Zach Meyer at the COALROOM
Intro and Closing music gifted by Danny O’Brien
All visuals contributed by Josiah Werning

19 Practice: The Sing-Down with Flobots (Jonny 5 & Brer Rabbit) 26:56 Share

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19 Practice: The Sing-Down with Flobots (Jonny 5 & Brer Rabbit)