Take Two Knees

George Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020 was a somber moment in our nation’s history that led to the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, and it swept the nation. From peaceful protests to viral social media posts, individuals, corporations, and governments alike were challenged to join in solidarity with the Black community in the fight for racial equality and justice.

On May 27 – just two days after Floyd’s death – New York Philharmonic’s Principal clarinetist Anthony McGill posted a solo performance of “America the Beautiful” on Facebook that inspired musicians across the country to address racism in the language they know best: music. Using the hashtag #TakeTwoKnees, which was a tribute to Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protests of police violence, McGill challenged his musical colleagues to join him in solidarity. In his post, McGill shared, “Let’s try and #TakeTwoKnees in the struggle for justice and decency. No guidelines. Your message, your voice, your mission, your focus. Just #TakeTwoKnees for what you believe in.”

Susan Wulff, Associate Principal bass of the San Diego Symphony joined the call to action for musicians to speak out against racism with a piece titled, “Meditation for a Brother of Soul” by jazz bassist and composer John Clayton. Wulff drew inspiration with words and imagery by artist/poet Morgan Harper Nichols, and the final image of the production was created by artist Michelle Robinson. 

WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnwRP3BEPto

You can find more videos by artists across the globe who joined McGill to #TakeTwoKnees here:
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/TakeTwoKnees

#BlackLivesMatter #TakeTwoKnees