The 6 Music Black Power Soundscape
Don Letts introduces a soundscape telling the story of the Black Power protest at the 1968 Olympics by 200m medallists Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
Don Letts introduces a soundscape telling the story of the potent Black Power protest at the 1968 Olympics by 200m medallists Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
Including inspirational music from Marvin Gaye, James Carr, James Brown, Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, the Impressions, Mark Alexander, Solomon Burke, the Chambers Brothers, Mahalia Jackson, Nina Simone, Bill Withers, Jimi Hendrix and Elaine Brown mixed with archive footage of the Olympic Games and the voices of Smith and Carlos telling their story and the repercussions of their brave act.
Don also brings the story up to the modern day with the thoughts of American football star Colin Kaepernick, who, since 2016, has led the ‘take a knee’ protests during the national anthem at American football games, in response to police brutality, continuing deprivation and discrimination.
This programme was first broadcast in October 2018 as part of the Black Power Season on 6 Music, 1Xtra and 5 Live, marking Black History Month and 50 years since Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their gloved fists in their potent and provocative Black Power salute at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. Sadly, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota during his arrest in 2020, the issues explored in the programme became headline news once again. We repeat this programme to mark the first anniversary of his tragic death.
Last on
Music Played
-
Marvin Gaye
ABRAHAM MARTIN & JOHN
- MOTOWN CHARTBUSTERS VOL. 5.
- MOTOWN.
- 530-060 2.
-
James Carr
FREEDOM TRAIN
- THE COMPLETE GOLDWAX SINGLES - JAMES CARR.
- KENT SOUL.
- CDKEND-202.
-
James Brown
SAY IT LOUD I'M BLACK AND PROUD
- SEX MACHINE/THE VERY BEST OF JAMES BROWN.
- 845828-2.
-
Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers
JESUS WASH AWAY MY TROUBLES
- IN THE BEGINNING.
- ACE.
- CDCHD-280.
-
COOKE, SAM WITH THE SOUL STIRRERS
Farther Along
- Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers.
- Ace.
- CDCHD-359.
-
Esther Marrow
Things Ain't RIght
- Sister Woman.
- Fantasy.
- 9414.
-
The Flames
Stand Up And Be Counted
- Stand Up and Be Counted: Soul, Funk and Jazz from a Revolutionary Era.
- Harmless.
- HURT-CD020.
-
THE IMPRESSIONS FEATURING CURTIS MAYFIELD
We're A Winner
- ALL THE BEST.
- PICKWICK.
- N/A-N/A.
-
The Alexander Review
A Change Had Better Come
- Latin Groove.
- Charly.
- CPCD 8084.
-
Solomon Burke
I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free)
- Solomon Burke The Platinum Collection.
- Warner.
- 8122-79995-3.
-
The Chambers Brothers
Time Has Come Today
- Live.
- Future Noise.
- ACMCD 4046.
-
Mahalia Jackson
The Lord's Prayer
- Jazz on a Summer's Day.
- Charly.
- X686.
-
Nina Simone
Revolution (Parts 1 And 2)
- The Essential Nina Simone Volume 2.
- RCA ‎- 07863 66428-2.
- RCA ‎- 07863 66428-2.
-
Bill Withers
LEAN ON ME
- LEAN ON ME: THE COLLECTION.
- SONY.
- X-X.
-
George Fenton
NEWSNIGHT THEME
- 24-HOUR TELEVISION.
- CARLIN.
- CARLIN-138.
-
Jimi Hendrix
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
- Jimi Hendrix Woodstock.
- Polydor.
- 523384 2.
-
Elaine Brown
Until We're Free
- Listen Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975.
- Light in the Attic Records.
- n/a.
-
Marvin Gaye
Abraham, Martin & John
-
James Carr
Freedom Train
-
James Brown
Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)
-
Queen Esther Marrow
Things Ain't Right
-
The Impressions
We're A Winner
-
The Chambers Brothers
Time Has Come Today
- Milan.
-
Bill Withers
Lean On Me
- Nightlife II (Various Artists).
- Solitaire Collection.
-
Jimi Hendrix
Star Spangled Banner
- Atlantic.
-
Sam Cooke
A Change Is Gonna Come
- Sam Cooke - The Man & His Music.
- RCA.
-
Pete Wylie
Sinful
- Virgin.
Broadcasts
- Sun 21 Oct 2018 13:00³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 6 Music
- Tue 2 Jun 2020 12:00³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 6 Music
- Wed 30 Dec 2020 03:00³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 6 Music
- Wed 26 May 2021 01:00³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 6 Music
Featured in...
Black Power
6 Music celebrates 50 years since the iconic black power salute at the 1968 Olympics.
Black History
Afrofuturism, civil rights, Windrush and more