Undeniably, the previous generation’s understanding of democracy will clearly be different from the next’s. As this nation’s long-standing form of governance is being actively outmaneuvered, the opposition struggles to catch up, institutions decay, and culture stops paying attention. Unprepared, this country has been met by a politician whose radicalism and fervor are unprecedented, yet has also mastered regularization and legal manipulation to dole out fanaticism, hatred, and illegal action enough that we accept and normalize it.
However, the actions of leaders of the current administration are nothing vastly out of the ordinary—in the name of authoritarians who’ve been able to exploit economic and societal resentments in all the same ways as we see President Donald Trump do today. It runs parallel to Hitler in the wake of the German hyperinflation, and Putin following Russia’s introduction to a market economy and the rise of oligarchs. As these leaders began dispersing their power in increasingly violent, hateful, and targeted ways, there is no doubt that there were citizens who disagreed with the leadership, but clearly, for events such as the Holocaust to ensue, there was a blind eye turned to what was being witnessed. It is foreboding to imagine the possibilities of cruelty our current administration could accomplish if resistance continues to not find a unifying force, and sits back to watch. Every moment we hesitate, we inch closer to a reality where everyone’s freedoms are no longer guaranteed.
Amidst the limitations of liberties our country currently and will very likely continue to face, there are ways to use our voices to mobilize dissent and change. The arts, and especially music, have always held immense capacity to ignite, unite, and mobilize dissent. During the Vietnam era, songs like Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” became the anthems that could ignite collective resistance, compelling thousands to join the chorus and say, “I must contribute something.” Already, standout protest tracks are emerging from left-leaning mainstream artists—most notably Macklemore’s searing “HIND’S HALL,” Kim Gordon’s reinterpretation “BYE BYE 25!” and Bruce Springsteen’s defiant tour‑opening version of “No Surrender.” Still, we should expect more from popular culture, as recognizing these voices reminds us why persistence matters and holds the power to incentivize rallying. The energy and motivation to fight back must never dwindle when faced with politicians who are not prepared to stop.
Music has the power to uplift, inspire, enrage, and truly make a difference in the minds of our younger generations who have opportunities to fight against what they’re witnessing and reverse the damage. With the opposing political party in shambles, we can take a step outside politics to source unity in defiance. Without a strong visionary leader for Democrats, Trump and his radicalism have been able to take up so much space in politics that democracy is placed in a highly precarious place.
We cannot risk being bystanders to democratic erosion. Popular culture cannot fail in expressing discontent, which can serve as a unifying voice and vision where politics is not. Society has so much more power in numbers than what may be assumed, and by intentionally fostering artistic expressions of resistance, we can shift the course of history. History warns us what happens next. Now is the time to speak out.