Freedom Sings at Ohio University

Jacob Solether

js282314@ohio.edu 

Who 

Freedom Sings is a group of highly talented musicians that travel to universities around America, showcasing the powers of the First Amendment by performing groundbreaking, historical music. The program is part of the First Amendment Center. Ken Paulson, the president of the First Amendment Center, hosted and narrated the event. Ohio University students and faculty were in attendance.

What

The event consisted of live music, images and videos displayed on the projector screen and conversations among the audience and the performers on stage. The message was clear, it was all about the power and passion of the First Amendment and how artists use it to shed light on certain issues or to create social change. It was a short crash course through the history of American music and how artists have used the freedom of speech to enhance political and social awareness, as well as to show how music has molded America into what it is today. They talked about the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the freedom of assembly and petition. Paulsen spoke about historical events that changed America forever, and in between each speech the band played a song which had to do with the story.  

When and Where 

Four members of the group performed in Baker Theater at OU on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016.

Favorite Song 

The man on the keyboard, who is a former member of the Steve Miller Band, and who Ken Paulsen said was the "Hands of soul", performed Gil Scott Heron's song, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." It is such a powerful song that speaks about some of the tragic events of the 1960's and it was great to see them pay tribute to it.