Joy Oladokun Issues a Firm, Gentle Call to Action in 'I See America'

Joy Oladokun has a soothing voice and has cultivated an electronic-tinged folk-pop sound that is easy to enjoy. She’s also long established herself as an artist who doesn’t shy away from difficult but necessary conversations. That’s a part of why we recognized her recent album In Defense of My Own Happiness (Vol. 1) as Best Musical Expression of Self-Care in our Best of Nashville issue. In a gentle and natural way, she dives deep into big questions about sexual orientation, faith and race, looking at interactions among those three broad concepts as well as the effects they have on people trying to survive in contemporary society.

On Friday, Oladokun released a new single called “I See America” that deftly examines the long-lasting harm that systemic racism does to Black communities, as well as the subtle and sinister cultural norms that hold it up. In the opening verse, she describes a young Black man she sees on the street, acknowledging his fundamental worth as a human being in ways that others don’t seem to have done. In the closing verse, she examines ways that racist attitudes are able to spread quietly when they go unchecked in the name of keeping peace in the family. 

The song acknowledges two huge social and cultural issues that cause extraordinary and long-lasting suffering in our country. It's also a quietly powerful call for change, as Oladokun sings: "Violence and rumors in a Southern town / Will start with a whisper / But so does the difference."

As the Nov. 3 election nears, in a state where more than 20 percent of Black citizens of voting age are disenfranchised due to a felony conviction, the song is among the most patriotic expressions you could ask for. Above, check out the lyric video for the single. Follow Oladokun on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and watch her website for updates.