racism is a subject that, unfortunately, is still very present in our society. through music, artists have the power to bring up this discussion and provide a space for us to reflect on this issue. songs about racism .

In this list you will discover a variety of sounds and lyrics that address this subject in a deep and impactful way.

Table of Contents

• Best Songs about Racism
  • 1. "A carne" (Elza Soares)
  • 2. "Negro gato" (Luiz Melodia)
  • 3. "Mandume" (Emicida)
  • 4. "Good Hope" (Emicida)
  • 5. "Cabeça de Nego" (Karol Conka)
  • 7. "A coisa tá preta" (Rincon Sapiência)
  • 8. "Active Voice" (Racionais MC's)
  • 9. "Elza" (Rimas e Melodias)
  • 10. "Mother's Music" (Djonga)
  • 11. "A Body in the World" (Luedji Luna)
  • 12. "Negro Drama" (Racionais MC'S)
  • 13. "Negro é lindo" (Jorge Bem)
  • 14. "Exotics" (BK)
  • 15. "Sorriso Negro" (Dona Ivone Lara)
  • 16. "Breu" (Xênia França)
  • 17. "Iodo + Now Fragile" (Luedji Luna)
  • 18. "Zumbi" (Jorge Ben Jor)
  • 19. "Eminência Parda" (Emicida)
  • 20. "Ile Aye" (O Rappa)
• Songs about racism in English
  • 21. "Freedom" (Beyoncé)
  • 22. "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" (James Brown)
  • 23. "Alright" (Kendrick Lamar)
  • 24: "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" (Nina Simone)
  • 25. "Fight the Power" (Public Enemy)

Best Songs about Racism

1. "A carne" (Elza Soares)

The cheapest meat on the market is black meat

Only the blind do not see

Who goes to prison for free

And under the plastic

And go for free to underemployment

And to psychiatric hospitals.

A true symbol of anti-racist resistance in Brazil, "A carne" is part of the album "Do cóccix até o pescoço" by the legendary Elza Soares. The singer, who left us in 2022 at the age of 91, was always an active voice in the fight against racial discrimination.

Thus, "The Flesh", among the most profound songs about racism, is a powerful critique of racial and social inequality The song portrays the reality of black people, showing them to be the most vulnerable to social injustice, thus making us reflect on the importance of the fight for equality.

2. "Negro gato" (Luiz Melodia)

I am a black cat

Chilling

This life of mine

It's really bitter

Only from a roof

Others I disrespect

I am a black cat

I am a black cat

My sad story

I'll tell you

And after hearing it

I know you will cry

It's been a long time since I've known

What is a good dish

"Negro Gato" tells the sad story of a black cat who lives on the streets and has to survive as best he can. It is a beautiful song, sad, but also hopeful, because it reminds us that there are many people who need our help.

The Music celebrates the resistance and the strength of black people This metaphor is present in other parts, such as Black Panther, an American party, and T'challa, the king of Wakanda from Marvel Comics. Both are strong symbols of resistance and struggle against oppression.

In this sense, this song is marked by a sad melody and poetic lyrics, which invite us to reflect on our role as human beings in the struggle for a fairer society for all.

3. "Mandume" (Emicida)

They want someone

Who comes from where we come from

Be more humble, put your head down

Never fight back, pretend you have forgotten the whole thing

What I want is for them to

They want someone

Who comes from where we come from

Be more humble, put your head down

Never fight back, pretend you have forgotten the whole thing

What I want is for them to

"Mandume" is a moving song by Emicida that poetic approach to racism and oppression The rhythm is exciting, and the lyrics tell the story of the struggle and resistance of black people, bringing up historical facts and cultural references that serve to demonstrate the strength and determination of those who resist.

4. "Good Hope" (Emicida)

No matter how hard you run, brother

For their war they won't even care

That is the crux of the matter

Have you ever seen them cry about the color of the orixá?

And what are the camburãos?

Negreiros retrafficking

Slum is still a senzala, João

Time bomb about to go off.

This song by Emicida is really impacting. Brazilians who live in poverty and are victims of racism So it is a profound message that motivates us to act to change reality and bring good hope to these people.

I want information to enroll in the Psychoanalysis Course .

Above all, among the songs about racism, this one has very strong lyrics that make us reflect on how much we still need to fight for us all to have equal opportunities.

5. "Cabeça de Nego" (Karol Conka)

The song "Cabeça de Nego" by Karol Conka celebrates African ancestry and the culture and resistance of the black people Therefore, it portrays the strength and faith of the black people and their trajectories of struggle and overcoming. Above all, its verses speak of resistance and the struggle in search of freedom and equality, even in the face of the harshest adversities.

6. "Olhos coloridos" (Sandra de Sá)

You laugh at my clothes

You laugh at my hair

You laugh at my skin

You laugh at my smile

The truth is that you

Has Creole blood

Has hard hair

Sarará Creole.

It is a song that speaks about acceptance and pride in one's own culture. Thus, it is a song that carries a message of hope and motivation for people to accept diversity and understand that we are all equal, despite our differences. However, the lyrics speak directly to the heart of everyone who hears them.

7. "A coisa tá preta" (Rincon Sapiência)

Let's go (Manicongo)

Hey, for my race there is no love

Wash your mouth out to talk about my color

If they want to taste the flavor

Ask for a blessing to beat the drum

Never acts, never speaks

That melanin becomes a cane

Just because we escaped from the senzala

They want to tell us that we are evil.

The release of "A Coisa Tá Preta" on May 13, 2016, the date that marks the Day of the Abolition of Slavery in Brazil, marked the debut of the rapper from São Paulo. This track is part of the album "Galanga Livre", which was named after Chico-Rei, who had the real name Galanga, born in the Congo and brought to Brazil as a slave.

8. "Active Voice" (Racionais MC's)

More than half the country is black and forgets

Who has access only to the rest he offers

So little for so many people

So many people in the hand of so little

Deluded generation, a bankrupt mass

From distorted information

Subtracted from television.

Among our list of songs about racism, the song "Active Voice" highlights the unequal treatment between blacks and whites, evidencing the pejorative representation of blacks in the media, especially on television in the 90's. Although blacks were present, they were represented in a simplified and stereotypical way, creating a negative image of them.

9. "Elza" (Rimas e Melodias)

I came from planet hunger

Alive, dream, Elza

I have hope in my eyes

I live, I sing, Elza

I want information to enroll in the Psychoanalysis Course .

I am truth, I am soul!

My song is a light that emerges

My steps mark history

The past was full of thorns

But my name is now

The Rimas e Melodias collective, that has been making noise in the female hip-hop scene, is formed by Alt Niss, Drik Barbosa, Karol de Souza, Mayra Maldjian, Stefanie Roberta, Tássia Reis and Tatiana Bispo. tribute to singer Elza Soares, who was elected by the BBC as the singer of the millennium .

10. "Mother's Music" (Djonga)

Look how they look at me

From the depths of the east, I kept the promise

And I turned the game around

Who imagined that the son out of nothing would become this here

My mother told me that relatives come from everywhere

Even the enemies' of the time crime, bullshit, team, sect, see and accept

That the king is the one sitting on the throne

The boy who wanted to be God, rapper Djonga, from Minas Gerais, has a strong and critical discourse about Brazil's social problems, mainly related to racism. His biggest hit, "A Música da Mãe", has a clip that reflects and addresses this issue, bringing several references to the theme.

11. "A Body in the World" (Luedji Luna)

I crossed the sea, a sun

From South America guide me

I carry a handbag

Inside a prayer, a goodbye

I am one body, one being, one body only

It has color, it has cut

And the story of my place, oh

I am my own vessel

I am my own luck

If you want to know even more on the role of black women in society In short, Luedji Luna's track "Um Corpo no Mundo", which gives the album its name, is a form of expression, poetic and musical, of the struggles and difficulties of this woman in the middle of the Brazilian metropolis.

12. "Negro Drama" (Racionais MC'S)

Nego drama

Between success and mud

Money, problems, envy, luxury, fame

Nego drama

Curly hair and dark skin

The wound, the sore, in search of healing

Nego drama

Try to see and you see nothing

Not to be a star

Far away, kind of blurred

Feel the drama

The price, the charge

In love, in hate, the insane revenge

It is almost impossible to talk about black Brazilian music without mentioning Racionais MC's. One of the band's main songs, "Negro Drama", has been chosen for this list of songs about racism.

Above all, the letter a borders on important themes such as racial discrimination, social inequality and the life of the peripheries, becoming a true manifestation of the daily life of black communities in Brazil.

13. "Negro é lindo" (Jorge Bem)

Black is beautiful

Black is beautiful

Black is a friend

Black is also

Son of God

I just want

God help me

Watching my son

Be born and grow

And be a champion

Without Harm

Nobody because

"Negro é Lindo" is an anthem celebrating the beauty and strength of African culture, portraying the greatness that the black community possesses. The song inspires, comforts, and lifts the spirits of all who hear it. Thus, this song is a celebration of diversity and equality, and of the history of black people's struggle and resistance.

14. "Exotics" (BK)

It came out of a movie, a picture, a song

She does not exist, I hold her hand

Look beautiful color, attract the eyes

People go to the window

That she is so much better than those others

Skin, hair, my hand glides

Colleges, dinners, look she is so fine

Hand in hand with her everyone spies

Everyone shouts and says it's my luck

Carioca BK's song, entitled "Exotic", is a call to awareness about stereotypes and the sexualization of black people In this sense, it addresses important issues, such as racial inequality, the devaluation of minorities, and the fight for equal rights.

15. "Sorriso Negro" (Dona Ivone Lara)

Black is the root of freedom

Black is the root of freedom

Black Smile

A black hug

Brings happiness

Jobless Black

Be quiet

And black is the root of freedom

Dona Ivone Lara, considered the "queen of samba", in "Sorriso Negro" pays homage to the black people and their resistance throughout the centuries, highlights the strength and beauty of black culture Even in the face of all the difficulties they face.

Even more, it points to the need for equal opportunities for all, regardless of skin color. Thus, it is a beautiful song, which reminds us that the fight for equality and justice must continue.

16. "Breu" (Xênia França)

Who clears the gloom

Of your nakedness half truth?

Who undoes the veil

And target identity descendant?

Add the black gold bitumen custom tax whip

Dirty another name, another tact

Mulata, the colored one

Coitus is sold, cheap meat overnight

Xênia, one of the former vocalists of the band Aláfia, unveiled her first solo single titled "Breu", an original composition by Lucas Cirillo. This song, besides being a tribute to Cláudia Silva, a black woman murdered by the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro in 2014, is also a symbol of resistance and struggle for racial equality.

Therefore, with a strong and poetic message, Xênia's music aims to raise awareness and inspire the public to fight for social justice.

17. "Iodo + Now Fragile" (Luedji Luna)

It's all far away

It's all grief

It's all colonial theft

No cure, dead fall

Gift where dark skin hides

Egungun good to fly

And evade the shark-wielding mob

And from the cellars above, dive

And shipwreck and now fragile, fragile, fragile.

The song "Iodine + Now Fragile", by the singer Luedji Luna, is a strong protest against the legacy of the colonial system Thus, with her intense lyrics and melancholic melody, she reminds us that there is still much to be done so that we can free ourselves from the restrictions imposed on black people.

18. "Zumbi" (Jorge Ben Jor)

Angola Congo Benguela

Monjolo Cabinda Mina

Quiloa Rebolo

Here where the men are

There is a big auction

They say there is a princess for sale in it

Who came along with his subjects

Chained on ox carts

"Zumbi" is an iconic song by Brazilian singer Jorge Ben Jor. In short, the lyrics are inspired by the story of Zumbi dos Palmares the leader of a Brazilian quilombo that fought against slavery in the 17th century.

Thus, the lyrics capture the sadness and resilience of Zumbi's story, but also the hope for a better future. However, a cheerful melody and a contagious rhythm help convey the message of struggle and resistance.

19. "Eminência Parda" (Emicida)

This song by rapper Emicida is a narrative poem about the journey of resistance of a black man and highlights his perseverance and faith Thus, it tells the story of a man who came from a place of pain to a place of hope, resisting the forces that tried to hold him down and abuse him.

In this way, the lyrics bring social awareness, strength, and dignity to those who have been subjugated and marginalized for a long time. With its incisive verses and contagious rhythms, it leaves a message of hope and bravery for those who face the same difficulties.

20. "Ile Aye" (O Rappa)

What block is this

I want to know

It's the dark world

That we have come to show you

For you

What block is this

I want to know

It's the dark world

That we have come to show you

For you

Somo crioulo doido

Somo bem legal

I have hard hair

Somo black power

"Ile Aye" is an exciting and energetic track by the famous Brazilian group O Rappa. With vibrant beats and inspiring lyrics, it celebrates black culture and reinforces the importance of cultural heritage.

However, the lyrics celebrate the beauty and pride of black culture, and have a strong message of acceptance and love. In this way, it talks about acceptance, respect, and how black culture should be seen as a great wealth.

Songs about racism in English

21. "Freedom" (Beyoncé)

Freedom! Freedom! I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose!

Singin', freedom! Freedom! Where are you?

Cause I need freedom too!

I break chains all by myself

Won't let my freedom rot in hell

Hey! I'ma keep running

Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

• Translation (source: Vagalume site):

Freedom! Freedom! I can't move

Freedom, set me free!

Singing, freedom! Freedom! Where are you?

For I also need freedom

I break the chains by myself

I will not let my freedom burn in hell

Hey! I'll keep running

For a winner never gives up on himself

This Beyoncé song could be considered a cry for freedom It is a call to recognize the equality and freedom of human rights, and to fight against oppression. It is a message of hope and strength for those who suffer from racism and all forms of discrimination.

Moreover, this song really reminds us that even when circumstances sometimes seem hopeless, we should always fight for freedom.

22. "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" (James Brown)

Now we demand a chance to do things for ourserlf

We're tired of beatin' our head against the wall

And workin' for someone else

We're people, we're just like the birds and the bees

We'd rather die on our feet

Than be livin' on our knees

Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud

• Translation (source: Vagalume site):

Now we demand a chance to do things for ourserlf

We're tired? of our heads banging against the wall

And working for someone

We are people, we are just like the birds and the bees

We prefer to die standing up

than to be living on our knees

Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud

This is an anthem of resistance and pride in black culture, by James Brown. In this sense, among the songs about racism This is a powerful reminder that despite oppression and discrimination, black people have never lost their strength and determination.

23. "Alright" (Kendrick Lamar)

Wouldn't you know

We been hurt, been down before

Nigga, when my pride was low

Lookin' at the world like

'where do we go?'

• Translation (source: Vagalume site):

You don't know

We've been hurt before, we've been knocked down before

Nego, when my pride was low

Looking at the world like

'where are we going?'

"Alright" by Kendrick Lamar is an inspirational song that celebrates resilience and the fight against racial inequality The lyrics are also a call for unity and solidarity between people, instead of hatred and racism.

24: "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" (Nina Simone)

I wish I knew how

It would feel to be free

I wish I could break

All the chains holding me

I wish I could say

All the things that I should say

• Translation (source: Vagalume site):

I wish to know how

It is to feel free

I wish I could break

All the chains that bind me

I wish I could say

All the things I would like to say

This song by Nina Simone is an incredible track that reminds everyone how important the right to feel free is, and can be considered one of the highlights of songs about racism. It is a song of empowerment, that raises the flag of everyone's right to be free to make choices.

25. "Fight the Power" (Public Enemy)

While the Black bands sweatin'

And the rhythm rhymes rollin'

Got to give us what we want

Gotta give us what we need

Our freedom of speech is freedom or death

We got to fight the powers that be

Lemme hear you say

Fight the power

• Translation (source: Vagalume site):

While the black flags wave

And the rhythm of the rhymes rolls on

You have to give us what we want

You have to give us what we need

Our freedom of speech is freedom or death

We have to fight the established powers

To hear you say

Fight the power

"Fight the Power" is an iconic song by Public Enemy that addresses the theme of fighting racism and social injustices. The lyrics call listeners to fight against the powers that oppress and affirm the need for freedom of speech so that the voices of the oppressed can be heard.

However, it was impressive to hear about the theme of racism through these songs. If you know more songs about racism Also share this article with your friends on social networks, so that more people can have access to this important content.