Activist Songbook
“Creativity is the key to human liberation.”
—Grace Lee Boggs
“When the system sucks, whatchu gonna do?”
—Wei Chen
Activist Songbook is a process-oriented work that begins with interviews of Asian American, Asian immigrant and Asian refugee organizers. Working with those interviewed, composer Byron Au Yong and writer Aaron Jafferis create material for a Songbook to gather individuals and collectives to energize efforts towards counteracting racism and hate crimes. The project results in a collection of 53 songs and raps initially prompted by the racially-motivated murder of Vincent Chin, as well as organizing movements towards justice.
Rally Song Video
Based on the true story of Masaru Edmund Nakawatase, this song emerges from the freedom work of Japanese Americans who were born in WWII incarceration, came of age in the Civil Rights Movement, and are fighting to end migrant detention and incarceration today.
Narrative Song Video
Based on interviews with Hmong American artist and activist Kao Kue, with additional inspiration from Carol Zou, this song speaks to ways refugee and immigrant families survive in the face of systematic oppression, and how culture, especially songs, carries life and resistance through generations.
Activist Songbook explores how human rights organizing and music intersect to inspire action and sustain the fight towards equity and justice.
Narrative Song Video
50 years ago, the Asian American movement started alongside Black, Latinx, and Native American organizers. PJ and Roy Hirabayashi (founders of San Jose Taiko in 1973) were inspired by the anti-war movement, student organizing in the 1960s and 1970s, and “A Grain of Sand: Music for the Struggle by Asians in America.”
Narrative Rap Video
“We Are Leaders” is inspired by Wei Chen and the students of South Philadelphia High School, who took a stand against anti-Asian violence, working with Chinese, Vietnamese, and Black student leaders to create lasting change in the system. They show how every time we come together, we win.
Narrative Rap Video
“Know Your Rights 知道你的权益” contains details about the legal protections available to maintain dignity during ICE raids. Immigration news in the United States often flies away from individuals and into buzzwords and walls. This multilingual rap provides steps to take if ICE officers show up.
Narrative Song Video
“This Is A Beginning” is prompted by organizing in response to the racially-motivated murder of Vincent Chin in Detroit. This hate crime was a turning point for Asian American solidarity in the fight for federal civil rights. Activist Songbook was initially prompted by Chin’s murder, as well as multi-generational movements.
Trailer Video
Sheet Music excerpts (scroll inside frame)
Byron Au Yong and Aaron Jafferis
Creative Team
Byron Au Yong, composer
Aaron Jafferis, lyricist
Details
Duration: variable
Cast: open
Instrumentation
voices
guitar
piano
percussion
Selected Workshops & Performances
May 2021
Music, Activism, and Healing Workshop
Hopkins Center for the Arts, Dartmouth University, NH
February 2021
Even When You’re Angry, There Will Be Joy
National Teach-In for Art & Healing, Dramatists Guild
June 2020
Activist Songbook Online
International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven CT
May 2020
Activist Songbook Workshop
Stanford ITALIC, Stanford CA
October and November 2019
January and February 2020
Activist Songbook Workshops
International Festival of Arts & Ideas, New Haven CT
October 11, 2019
Compassion Has No Walls Vigil
ICE Building, San Francisco CA
September 6, 2019
We All Count: Representation, Voice, and Activism in 2020
Critical Diversity Studies Forum, University of San Francisco CA
April 27, 2019
Creating Infrastructure for Resistance through Music Panel
Association for Asian American Studies, Madison WI
November 11, 2018
Music of Asian America Conference and Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia PA
July 20, 2018
We the People
Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga CA
May 3 – 5, 2018
Asian Arts Initiative 25th Anniversary Celebration
Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia PA
January, March, April, May 2018
Community Workshops and (ex)CHANGE Residency
Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia PA
October 14 – 18, 2017
(ex)CHANGE Residency
Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia PA
Visit Activist Songbook Events for a list of workshops and interviewees.
International Festival of Arts & Ideas Creative Team (2020)
Music Direction by Stephanie Tubiolo
Audio and Video Editing by Stephanie Tubiolo
Survival Is Resistance
featuring Diane Phelan (vocal soloist)
with Anton Kot (piano) and Kao Kue (spoken word)
There Will Be Joy
featuring Ali Ewoldt and Francis Jue (voice)
with Christopher Thomas Pow (guitar)
and special guests PJ and Roy Hirabayashi
We Are Leaders
featuring Jason Chu and Z Bell (rap)
with Anton Kot (beatbox and keyboard)
This Is a Beginning
featuring Christine Toy Johnson (voice) and Tobias Wong (voice and guitar)
Choir Performances by Aaron “Coach Hawk” Hawkins, Aaron Jafferis, Amelia Allen Sherwood, Anne Rhodes, Anthony DeQuattro, Anton Kot, Audrey Patterson, Brianna Chance, Briana Williams, Britney Arias, Cliff Schloss, Eden Almasude, Darnell Charles, Debbie Elkin, Dezirae Pollard, Elaine Kolb, Elisabeth Kennedy, Emma Kennedy, Emmanuel Pollard, Erika Schroth, Fi Schroth-Douma, Florian Testa, Gabriela Diaz, Gloria Yin, Harriett Alfred, Jaminda Blackmon, Jeffrey Douma, Jennifer Heikkila Diaz, Julia Zhao, Kaelin Vasseur, Kao Kue, Kristin Fung, Linda Uyechi, Lisa Patterson, Madeleine Woodworth, Magdalena Diaz, Marnielle Charles, NicDaniel Charles, Nesta Allen II, Paul Davies, Rheo June Seay Jafferis, Saleena Holder, Sara Culver, Sarah Paquet, Shiloh Allen, Sylvia King, Tahj Galberth, Will Myers, Will Schroth-Douma, and Z Bell
Taiko Drumming in "There Will Be Joy" by Yuta Kato (Los Angeles Taiko Institute, principal), Franco Imperial (San Jose Taiko, artistic director), PJ Hirabayashi (San Jose Taiko, co-founder), Roy Hirabayashi (San Jose Taiko, co-founder), Michelle Fujii (Unit Souzou, co-director), Toru Watanabe (Unit Souzou, co-director)
Asian Arts Initiative Creative Team (2018)
Instructor Performers include Alex Bechtel, Richard Chan, Jason Chu, TJ Harris, Kao Kue, LaTasha Morris, Marina Muryama, Cat Ramirez, Daniel Park, Benjamin Pither, Jackie Soro, Stephanie Sun, Twoey Truong, and Kyheem Tucker
Philadelphia Video Documentation by Yohsuke Araki and Kyla van Buren
Press
Pendarvis Harshaw. The Pandemic, the Protests and the Police: Songs of the Summer 2020. KQED, June 2020
Lucy Gellman. Arts & Ideas Gets An Activist Soundtrack. New Haven Arts, May 2020
Kathy Leonard Czepiel. Melodies and Movements. Daily Nutmeg, December 2019
Peter Crimmins. Asian Arts Initiative celebrates past 25 years. WHYY NewsWorks, May 2018
Dan DeLuca. Asian Arts Initiative's Activist Songbook. The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 2018
Imani Roach. Byron Au Yong and Aaron Jafferis write useful protest music. Artblog, May 2018
Contact
Octopus Theatricals
info (at) octopustheatricals.com