Cole Williams Band - Give Power To The People (feat. Cole Williams) (2021)

There is an explosion of direct action in New Orleans, defending the rights of unhoused people to shelter and life. During the pandemic and economic collapse, New Orleans housing activists have created a political space for people to come together. Following frequent street demonstrations at New Orleans’ City Hall, they succeeded in getting the City to provide emergency housing in empty hotels in August.

Cole Williams, singer-songwriter, recording artist, radio host on WWOZ 90.7 FM and key organizer, is leading this struggle with deep community participation and her powerful songs of love and struggle. Their new album, “Give Power to the People” puts them in the tradition of Gil Scott Heron, creating songs that reflect the everyday experiences and hopes of people all around the world. These songs are anthems of the Movement for Black Lives and certainly for people struggling to make sense out of this dangerous and hopeful moment.

With The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team, the Cole Williams Band is to help presently unhoused people to participate in re-building abandoned houses and learn how to build communities that can be self-sufficient in the face of disease and enforced poverty. The organizing that Ella Baker taught and that created a successful and historic civil rights movement is the bedrock of this organizing project. Cole Williams Band's new album “Give Power to the People'' articulates their core organizing principles: go to the poorest people, create a shared plan for advancement, raise the spirits and awareness of our people, gain broad support and make it happen.” We see this as part of reparations to those most affected by historic institutional racism, and the beginning of humanity and equality for all people.