Sharam Featuring James Baldwin – Exodus (Pin Drop Mix) [Yoshitoshi]

James Baldwin was one of the great writers and orators of the 20th century. His poetry, novels, and speeches brought to light the racial and sexual discrimination issues facing our society in the 60’s and throughout his life. Awareness surrounding these issues has witnessed a new awakening in 2020, a year that will no doubt be a defining moment for everyone who cares about equality in America and around the world.

Dance music is all about inclusion and acceptance and I wanted to celebrate that by highlighting James Baldwin’s legacy, a writer and civil rights activist who has inspired many of today’s great minds. I’m happy to present this reworked version of my 2019 track ‘Exodus’ featuring Baldwin’s remarks from his famous debate with William F. Buckley in 1965 at Cambridge University about Race In America.

His powerful words illustrate the divide in accomplishing the American dream, something that is still present in today’s world and something that has resonated with me. I hope this record can help shed light on his work and inspire others to enact change however they can. I will donate all proceeds from this song to Hampshire College’s James Baldwin scholars program, a program which supports students who have great potential but who, because they have attended under-resourced and underperforming schools, might otherwise lose the opportunity to become top educational achievers.