Music Against Racism
Retrospective Marks 50th Anniversary of the Rock Against Racism Movement
Anonymous
Key Points
1
The Rock Against Racism letter appeared in the NME’s September 11, 1976, issue, at a time when the paper sold about 250,000 copies a week and served as a major forum for Britain’s emerging punk scene.
2
The letter was prompted by comments Eric Clapton made during an August 1976 concert in Birmingham, where he discussed what he believed was wrong with Britain.
3
Gerald Horne’s Black and Red focuses specifically on W.E.B. Du Bois and the African American response to the Cold War from 1944 to 1963; the discussion presents Du Bois’s later activism as the continuation of a lifelong political commitment despite anti-Black McCarthy-era repression.
A letter published in the British music magazine NME on September 11, 1976, sparked one of modern music's most influential anti-racist movements. Bella Caledonia reports that the letter protested racist remarks made by rock guitarist Eric Clapton, galvanizing musicians and fans to fight racism through concerts and activism. The moment marked a turning point when the music world united around a simple principle: rock music belonged to everyone.
The 50th anniversary of Rock Against Racism comes as racism remains a persistent problem across sports, entertainment, and workplaces. The New Civil Rights Movement has documented recent cases where individuals faced consequences for racist behavior, showing that the anti-racism work started five decades ago continues to shape how society responds to hate today.
Clapton's Comments Triggered a Music Industry Response
Eric Clapton made controversial comments during an August 1976 concert in Birmingham where he discussed what he believed was wrong with Britain. Bella Caledonia states that the remarks prompted outrage, leading readers to write to the NME. The magazine sold 250,000 copies weekly at the time and served as the main voice for Britain's emerging punk scene. The letter calling out racism resonated powerfully with young musicians and fans hungry for social change.
A Movement That United Musicians Against Hate
Rock Against Racism grew from a single published letter into a major cultural force. Labour Hub reports that the NME, with its 250,000-reader audience, combined music coverage with social activism to organize concerts and public events. Musicians from different genres joined together, using their platforms to send a clear message: racism had no place in rock and roll. The movement showed that popular culture could drive real political change.
The movement lasted well beyond 1976, becoming a model for how artists could oppose injustice. Young fans who attended Rock Against Racism concerts carried those anti-racist values into their adult lives. The movement demonstrated that music fans were not passive consumers but active citizens willing to stand up for what they believed in.
Historical Parallels: Black Activism Against Cold War Repression
The fight against racism extends far deeper into American history than 1976. Black Agenda Report notes that scholar Gerald Horne's book 'Black and Red' examines W.E.B. Du Bois and African American responses to the Cold War from 1944 to 1963. During this period, Black activists faced severe repression from government authorities during the McCarthy era. Du Bois continued his political work despite intense pressure, showing a lifelong commitment to racial justice that predated the modern civil rights movement.
Du Bois's story parallels Rock Against Racism in one crucial way: ordinary people resisted racism even when powerful forces tried to silence them. The McCarthy-era repression attempted to crush Black political activism through fear and intimidation. Yet activists like Du Bois persisted, laying groundwork for the movements that would emerge decades later.
Modern Cases Show Racism Remains a Workplace Problem
Racism did not disappear after Rock Against Racism. The New Civil Rights Movement reported that a man accused of sending a racist message to WNBA player Dearica Hamby was fired by his employer, Acclaro Medical. The case shows that companies now face pressure to punish racist behavior in ways they did not five decades ago. Social media and public attention make it harder for individuals or institutions to ignore racism when it surfaces.
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