Description
Elaine Brown – Until We’re Free – Blood Red Vinyl Record
VMP Exclusive Blood Red Vinyl
Limited to 500 Foil-Stamped & Numbered Copies
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Elaine Brown’s Until We’re Free is a powerful testament to her lifelong dedication to activism, justice, and the struggle for Black liberation. Known primarily as a leader within the Black Panther Party and for her work as a musician, writer, and activist, Elaine Brown’s influence has spanned decades. Until We’re Free (2022) serves as both a reflection of her deep history within the movement and a call to action in the present day, addressing ongoing social and racial inequalities that continue to plague society.
While Until We’re Free highlights Brown’s enduring commitment to political resistance, it is important to understand how her music, like her activism, is shaped by her revolutionary principles. Her earlier work, particularly her 1973 album Seize the Time, which featured songs like “The End of Silence” and “Seize the Time,” blended music with the urgent messages of the Black Power movement. Until We’re Free can be seen as an extension of that same spirit of defiance and hope for freedom.
Elaine Brown’s activism is inseparable from her music. As one of the few women to rise to the highest ranks of the Black Panther Party, Brown became a central figure in promoting the group’s revolutionary ideals. She used music as a form of protest, melding her artistic talents with her political beliefs. Her 1970s albums were infused with messages about solidarity, resistance, and the fight against systemic oppression, much like the spirit of Until We’re Free.
Brown’s work is deeply connected to the Black Panther Party’s focus on community empowerment, economic justice, and self-defense. In the 1960s and ’70s, the Panthers were at the forefront of the civil rights struggle, advocating for radical change in American society. Elaine Brown’s music was a soundtrack for the movement, galvanizing people to take action and confront racial and economic injustice head-on.
Much like her earlier work, Until We’re Free is rooted in the belief that the fight for liberation is far from over. The title itself underscores the reality that systemic oppression persists, and full freedom and equality have yet to be achieved, especially for marginalized communities. The album’s lyrics and messages speak to the importance of continuing to resist, organize, and push back against forces of racism, economic inequality, and state violence.
Throughout her work, Brown emphasizes the power of collective action. Until We’re Free is a reminder that liberation is not an individual pursuit but a communal one. Whether through activism or music, her focus has always been on building solidarity among oppressed groups, inspiring listeners to unite in their shared struggle for justice.
As a veteran of the Black Power movement, Brown’s current music reflects on the gains and setbacks of the civil rights struggle over the past several decades. There is a reflective tone in her recent work, as she draws parallels between the past and present, showing that while progress has been made, the same issues of systemic racism, police brutality, and economic inequality continue to impact Black communities.
One of Brown’s core messages is empowerment through resistance. Until We’re Free is a call to action, urging listeners to not only recognize the injustices that exist but also to take steps to fight them. Brown’s lyrics resonate with the urgency of the moment, pushing listeners to become actively involved in the ongoing fight for justice.
Elaine Brown’s earlier albums, like Seize the Time and Elaine Brown (1973), blended jazz, soul, and spoken word with revolutionary political messages. Her music in the 1970s was not only a product of the Black Panther movement but also of the era’s broader tradition of protest music. Songs like “All Power to the People” and “The Meeting” were directly tied to the politics of the Panthers, acting as musical extensions of their radical ideology.
In Until We’re Free, Brown’s evolution as both an artist and an activist shines through. The music is more reflective, less tied to specific ideological frameworks of the 1960s and ’70s, but the core of her revolutionary spirit remains intact. The themes are updated to reflect contemporary struggles, but they echo the same calls for justice and liberation that have defined her work for decades.
Until We’re Free comes at a time when issues of racial justice, police brutality, and systemic inequality are again at the forefront of national conversations, spurred by movements like Black Lives Matter. Elaine Brown’s message is particularly relevant today, as younger generations continue to grapple with many of the same issues she fought against as part of the Black Panther Party.
Her music serves as both a historical document of resistance and a blueprint for future activism. In many ways, Until We’re Free speaks directly to today’s activists, offering a reminder that the struggle for justice is ongoing and that the lessons from past movements are crucial to shaping future victories.
Until We’re Free is more than just an album – it’s a powerful political statement from a woman whose life has been dedicated to the fight for justice. Elaine Brown’s legacy as an activist and musician is reflected in the album’s themes of liberation, resilience, and defiance. While the music industry and political landscape have changed since the days of the Black Panther Party, Brown’s voice remains a crucial one, urging listeners to continue the fight until true freedom is achieved.
For those who are moved by socially conscious music and the power of protest art, Until We’re Free is a vital listen, offering both a look back at the revolutionary spirit of the 1960s and ’70s and a call to arms for today’s generation.
Track Listing
No Time
Jonathan
Can’t Go Back
All The Young And Fine Men
Until We’re Free
I Know Who You Are
Child In The World
A Little Baby
And We Shall Meet Again
