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The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil Scott-Heron

Presented by Molly Neale

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GIL SCott-Heron: “the godfather of rap”

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  • April 1, 1949 - May 27, 2011
  • Poet, “bluesologist”
  • Born in Chicago, lived in TN and NYC
  • Wrote about the struggles of being Black in America, his support for the Black Power movement, and the dangerous effects of drugs on Black communities

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The REvolution will not be teleVised

  • Released in 1971 → Vietnam, Civil Rights Movement, Black Power
  • Flute, bongos, congas
  • Never gained commercial success but was an underground hit in Black communities → a protest song for the civil rights movement

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Commercial Activism and Performative Activism

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THe Song

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Discussion questions

What are some examples of performative activism you have seen?

Do you believe corporations promoting certain political causes in their advertising is harmful or helpful?

Was there a line or stanza in the song that particularly caught your attention? Why?

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Works Cited

Abdi, Yomi. “A Tale of Performative Activism: How Black Lives Matter Became Just a Trend.” SJP, 5 Sept. 2020, https://yaledailynews.com/sjp/2020/09/05/a-tale-of-performative-activism-how-black-lives-matter-became-just-a-trend/.

BER Staff. “Commercialization of Social Movements – Berkeley Economic Review.” Berkeley Economic Review, https://econreview.berkeley.edu/commercialization-of-social-movements/.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised - Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/TheRevolutionWillNotBeTelevised.pdf.

Salazar, Cristian, and Associated Press. “Gil Scott-Heron, Whose Music Reflected Black Anger, Dies at 62.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 29 May 2011, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/gil-scott-heron-whose-music-reflected-black-anger-dies-at-62/2011/05/28/AGM3NEEH_story.html.

Sisario, Ben. “Gil Scott-Heron, Voice of Black Protest Culture, Dies at 62.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 28 May 2011, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/arts/music/gil-scott-heron-voice-of-black-culture-dies-at-62.html.

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“You will not have to worry about a dove in your bedroom

The tiger in your tank, or the giant in your toilet bowl

The revolution will not go better with Coke

The revolution will not fight germs that may cause bad breath

The revolution will put you in the driver's seat

The revolution will not be televised

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