When the Democratic National Convention opens today in Chicago, it will be the 26th national political convention hosted by the Windy City, more than any other U.S. city.
One of those gatherings, the 2004 Democratic National Convention, was historic. For the first time, the keynote address was delivered – not by a national figure, but by a state legislator who was regarded as one of the party’s rising stars. His name was Barack Obama.
The best known of those 26 conventions took place in 1968 when Democrats gathered amid protests and violent confrontations between protestors and police.
Graham Nash’s 1971 single “Chicago” is about those protests and the trail of the protest leaders that followed. His song ends on an encouraging note: “We can change the world, re-arrange the world.“
A little more than 10 years later, Nash told Jandoli Executive Director Richard Lee, who was then a music journalist, that he believed those lyrics were accurate and young people had effectuated positive change.
Some may agree with Nash’s assessment; others may disagree. Give a listen to this week’s Sharp Notes Monday selection and then decide.
As part of our “Sharp Notes, Sharp Thoughts” music and social media project, we share a song every Monday to start your week.
View previous Sharp Notes Monday selections.
Categories: Jandoli Institute, Music and Social Justice, Sharp Notes Monday, Sharp Notes Sharp Thoughts
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