{"product_id":"songs-my-mother-taught-me-why-the-artist-must-take-sides-paperback","title":"Songs My Mother Taught Me: Why the Artist Must Take Sides - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eSaul Williams\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eSaul Williams\u003c\/b\u003e (Read by)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAward-winning poet and performer Saul Williams explores how artists today must respond to systemic violence and injustice--in the words of Paul Robeson, by choosing sides.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSongs My Mother Taught Me\u003c\/em\u003e is Williams' clear-eyed exploration of the role of the artist in these times by answering the question: what radicalized you? He answers by examining how his role models--writers and artists, from Amiri Baraka to local musicians in Brazilian bars to Palestinian hip-hop heads--have responded to imperialist violence, oppression, and genocide. Riffing on Paul Robeson's famous declaration, Williams builds a provocative case for why today's artists cannot remain neutral in the face of injustice. \"We need songs that crumble empires,\" he writes, \"films that teach, remind, and inspire, poems that would make a despot revoke your citizenship.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe radical artists of the\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e Vanguard Series\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e offer new poetry and prose to answer the question, What does poetry have to do with politics?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSaul Williams\u003c\/strong\u003e is a Grammy-nominated filmmaker, musician, poet, writer, and actor. Author of \u003cem\u003esaid the shotgun to the head\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ethe dead emcee scrolls, \u003c\/em\u003e Williams is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip-hop, and for his lead roles in the independent film \u003cem\u003eSlam\u003c\/em\u003e and the jukebox musical \u003cem\u003eHoller If Ya Hear Me\u003c\/em\u003e. Saul starred as preacher Jedidiah Moore in Ryan Coogler's \u003cem\u003eSinners\u003c\/em\u003e. He lives in Los Angeles, California.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 204\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.7 x 7.7 x 5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 08, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46184768077868,"sku":"9798888905845","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0618\/6260\/8940\/files\/jJSwxtMXpL9798888905845.webp?v=1789609886","url":"https:\/\/littleredgeneralstore.com\/products\/songs-my-mother-taught-me-why-the-artist-must-take-sides-paperback","provider":"Little Red General Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}