We’re gonna Rise Up
With EVERY NAME that we say,
Calling out Liberty and Justice
For Breonna, George, and Freddie Gray
We’re gonna Rise Up
With every step that we take
Marching in rhythm, beats in our hearts
For Treyvon, Atatiana and Tony McDade
We’re gonna Rise up
With every Freedom song we know
Singing as many, in an army of one
For Ahmaud, Emmett and Calin Roquemore
We’re gonna Rise Up
And join our rainbow American hands
Walking together side by side
For Tamir, Botham, and Sandra Bland . . .
Excerpt from the book, “ENOUGH say their names.”
Annie Benjamin
Annie Benjamin is lyricist, poet and musician—a powerful combination for delivering messages in virtually any venue. Annie Benjamin’s music is a lot like the weather in Texas—unpredictable and constantly changing. She has sung everything from country to smooth jazz, rock and roll to old-time gospel. As a performer, she feels at home on the theatrical stage, in concert halls, and piano bars and honkytonks. As a human committed to social justice, she performs in schools, at protest rallies and demonstrations, and in front of civic and business leaders. Annie believes passionately that the arts have the power to heal hearts and minds while inspiring to bring about social change. Her music has been featured on NPR’s Car Talk and in films and documentaries. In 2013, she and several of her colleagues at Dallas’ Echo Theatre received the Dallas Column Award for best new locally written play for “The Echo Room Presents: Her Song”, which went on to have five successful runs. She won the prestigious B.W. Stevenson Singer/Songwriter Contest in Dallas in 2017. Annie collaborates with numerous local non-profits and often writes specifically tailored lyrics and music for benefits and events seeking to raise awareness. In recent years, she has been working with organizations seeking to increase access to fresh, locally grown food in urban food deserts in North Texas. After raising her two sons, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English in 2019. She can be reached at the following email to schedule engagements, or to explore other socially conscious and artistic projects.
