How can music empower individuals and groups in the fight for justice? In this course we will investigate three contemporary case studies from around the world where groups have employed music to confront racism and classism in pursuit of social justice. We will begin by studying institutional systems of racism and classism in the United States. We will consider strategies for dialogues on race, class, racism, and classism with an emphasis on developing a deeper understanding of our own social identities. An introductory unit will include snapshots of US history to understand specific moments in African American and Indigenous communities when music is utilized to confront racism and classism. We will then move on to three different case studies on music in Apartheid South Africa, Buraku Taiko drummers in Japan, and the Kamehameha Schools Song Contest in Hawai’i. Each case study will include an introduction to relevant historical, social, political, and musical context for the unit. Following the introduction, we will screen one full-length documentary film about music and social justice in the area of study (South Africa, Japan, and then Hawai’i). Students will complete an original project with a classmate to connect their course experience with their local community/ies.