1981

Rock Against Racism - Graphic Art, 1981

I did this drawing as an illustration to an article I wrote for the Boston Rock Against Sexism magazine about the Rock Against Racism movement in Britain that was formed in 1978 to combat racism and fascism.  Abbreviated text of the article:

ROCK AGAINST RACISM 

"We want rebel music, street music.  Music that breaks down people's fear of one another.  Crisis music.  Now music.  Music that knows who the real enemy is."  -- Tom Robinson Band

ROCK AGAINST RACISM began in Britain in the spring of 1978.  The Anti-Nazi League had just been formed in response to growing racist attacks by the National Front fascists on East Indians and black people.  When some racist remarks were made (and later denied) by several mainstream singers, a spontaneous protest occurred which signaled the beginning of Rock Against Racism.

RAR held a series of concerts that summer, bringing together local black reggae and white punk bands.  These outdoor carnivals brought out incredible numbers of people, with 30,000 attending a concert in Brockwell Park in September '78 and then 80-100,000 attending the 1979 anti-Nazi carnival.  The events often began with a march against the National Front, and union leaders gave speeches in between performers like Xray Spex, Steel Pulse, the Clash, and the Tom Robinson Band.

The movement of the Anti-Nazi League spread from RAR to almost every sector of the population.  Buttons were seen of "School Kids Against Nazis," football teams against Nazis, Gays Against Nazis.  As a League member put it, "rock music has at long last woken up to the fact that if the Nazi Front is not banned then it must be buried."  

Things became less intense after the summer of 1978 and RAR was formed into a club of its own right.  It lost some of its momentum but plugged on with gigs and the publication of TEMPORARY HOARDING.  Chapters opened in West Germany, Holland, Ireland, Canada and the United States.  In Canada the groups held events such as benefit concerts for local anti-nuclear groups and catch-all multi-media events held in gymnasiums, with bands playing, films showing, food, and literature tables set up by the local activist groups, giving them an opportunity to talk to people who would never walk in their office door.  These events used music to bring people out to discuss political issues.

RAR showed that music can be challenging and political, and still be exciting, entertaining, and good to dance to.  It didn't take long for a sister group, ROCK AGAINST SEXISM in Britain, to follow in RAR's footsteps.

So there you have it, folks - our "roots" !