by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
It’s been a rough few weeks (on top of a rough few months, years, etc) for police brutality aimed specifically towards black people in America. George Floyd and David McAtee are among the latest, but sadly one in a long line of names of black people whose lives were taken at the hands of the police. It needs to end. Let this be the tipping point where we all say “never again”. There needs to be real change in policy to prevent these things from happening over and over, one that takes power away from the police and invests in education and acceptance for all races. No one deserves to be judged or mistreated due to the color of their skin.
In Bandcamp’s ongoing quest to better the world, they are once again waiving their cut of all sales on Friday, June 5th (PST), and will continue to do so on the first Friday of July as well as June 19th where they will be donating their share to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. It’s a great way to support artists and labels you care about and to discover new music / pick up all those albums you’ve been meaning to get.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of records that deserve your attention on Bandcamp. We are highlighting some of our favorite black artists on Bandcamp, though it’s just a drop in the ocean. This list includes everything from indie rock, punk, and hardcore, to hip-hop, soul, go-go, and everything that falls between. It’s a list of records old and new, including many of our all time favorite artists, from a wide range of view points, but all united as black artists in America. In addition to these artists, many record labels are donating their sales to charitable causes as well.
One parting note before the list, the Bandcamp percentage isn’t all that big to begin with, so when Friday ends… just keep buying. Buy all year. Support the bands and artists you care about and those bands will be able to continue making music.
Maybe you don’t feel like buying music right now, and that’s okay too. Here are a few resources where you can donate directly and learn the next steps needed in the fight again racism and the systemic oppression of the country’s black communities:
https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/
https://www.joincampaignzero.org/
https://www.trayvonmartinfoundation.org/
as well as a google doc listing the many others.