I’m Gon Stand

By: Sweet Honey in the Rock

Verse 1:

I will not BOW DOWN to

Racism

I will not BOW DOWN to

Injustice

I will not BOW DOWN to

Exploitation

WHAT YOU GON DO?

I’m gon Staaaannndddd

I’m gon Stand (3x)

I’m gon Staaaannndddd

I’m gon Stand (3x)

Verse 2:

I just won’t TOLERATE no

Racism (NO)

I just won’t TOLERATE no

Injustice (NO)

I just won’t TOLERATE no

Exploitation  

WHAT YOU GON DO? 

I’m gon Staaaannndddd

I’m gon Stand (3x)

I’m gon Staaaannndddd

I’m gon Stand (3x)

Verse 3:

I will not OBEY no

Racism (NO, NO)

I will not OBEY no

Injustice (NO, NO)

I will not OBEY no

Exploitation

WHAT YOU GON DO?

I’m gon Staaaannndddd

I’m gon Stand (3x)

I’m gon Staaaannndddd

I’m gon Stand (3x)

I’m gon Staaaannndddd

I’m gon Stand (SO WHAT YOU GON DO??)

I’M GON STAND!

performance

Songs

I’m Gon Stand was originally written and performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock. Sweet Honey In The Rock® is a performance ensemble rooted in African American history and culture. The ensemble educates, entertains and empowers its audience and community through the dynamic vehicles of a cappella singing and American Sign Language interpretation for the Deaf and hard of hearing. Sweet Honey’s audience and community comes from diverse backgrounds and cultures throughout the United States and around the world, and includes people of all ages, economic/education/social backgrounds, political persuasions, religious affiliations, sexual preferences and differing abilities.

https://sweethoneyintherock.org

History

This song highlights the resilience and determination of the movement for Black life and liberation, and names elements of our historic experience that have been obstacles to our progress, Racism, In justice and Exploitation. But what is Racism, and what have heroes and Sheroes of our history said about it?

These short animated videos can be used to explain elements of systemic and structural racism. Each of them illustrate how racism works in different ways, and should help the kids understand how it works. It is important to remember racism can be broken down into three components — 1) Individualized or Internalized Racism aka self hate 2) Interpersonal Racism which generally appears in a range from micro aggressions to white terror, and 3) Institutional aka Systemic aka Structural Racism which has to do with laws, policies, and practices that have systematically excluded or persecuted Black people.

Young people have powerful and profound things to say about race, racism and their observations of how the world works, how it has been designed. This video is good to spark dialogue among Black kids specifically about race and about segregation. Space for kids to think about how they feel, and understand how their Blackness Is a source of sanctuary, comfort, power and resilience.