Nonviolence Radio

Pat Humphries and Sandy O. from the band, Emma’s Revolution, come to Nonviolence Radio to talk to Michael and Stephanie about music and its central role in nonviolent activism – and to perform the radio debut of their song, “You Are Not God”. Recognizing that current politics are leading many into a paralyzing sense of powerlessness and despair, Pat and Sandy remind us that singing can infuse us with joy, can bring us into community with others and can remind us that hope is always available. The music of Emma’s Revolution reveals that hope does not necessarily come through words and persuasive argument. Pat and Sandy encourage us to come together to challenge injustice by engaging in creative action, through making art, through singing and dancing together.

"[Pete Seeger] would always call for harmony and if the audience didn't respond, he would toss out some lines of harmony to teach people how to do that. In doing so, he got us listening to one another and then making our unique contribution that was still harmonious with the larger whole and creating that beautiful metaphor.

It's a big lesson, because that sense of togetherness and that sense of unity, it's part of what drives the hope. And the hope is what drives our ability to move forward."

When we expand our sense of the ways we might try to bring about change, we see that the effort required, however urgent and demanding, can still be infused with beauty and fun.