When did you last take part in a protest? Perhaps you signed a petition; joined a debate on social media; wrote to your MP or read an impassioned poem. In this episode Lemn is joined by Shami Chakrabarti to examine how campaigners have used language to further their aims throughout the centuries. Together, they listen to inspiring voices from the British Library Sound Archive, from leaders such as Nelson Mandela to campaigners fighting for LGBTQ rights, punk musicians and suffragettes such as Christabel Pankhurst. 

Described in The Times as "probably the most effective public affairs lobbyist of the past 20 years," Shami Chakrabarti is a barrister and human rights activist, as well as Member of the House of Lords and former Director of advocacy organisation Liberty.

Recordings in the episode in order of appearance: 

Christabel Pankhurst speaking after her release from Holloway Prison on 18th December 1908. 

British Library shelfmark: 1CL0025836 

An extract from Nelson Mandela’s speech made in April 1964 at The Rivonia Trial. Restored and transferred by the British Library from the dictabelt originals loaned by The National Archives of South Africa and © The National Archives of South Africa. 

British Library shelfmark: C985

An oral history interview recorded with Mr Kemp from Nottingham, in November 1982. Part of the Nottinghamshire Oral History Collection: Making Ends Meet Project.

British Library shelfmark: UUOL066/14

Member of the Gay Liberation Front, Luchia Fitzgerald, speaks to Dr. Sarah Feinstein in 2016 as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! oral history project. Thanks to Archives+ in Manchester for this extract. © Luchia Fitzgerald and Archives+.

British Library shelfmark: UAP007 

The Hooters perform ‘We shall Overcome’ at the Hooters' club in Birkenhead in 1965. The recording was found at Archives+, Manchester, it’s part of the Stan Mason folk music archive and was digitised as part of the Unlocking our Sound Heritage (UOSH) project. 

British Library shelfmark: UAP004/5 S2 C1 

Barack Obama speaking to his supporters in January 2008, after losing New Hampshire's Democratic primary to Hilary Clinton. Popularly known as the ‘Yes we can’ speech. © Barack Obama.

British Library shelfmark: 1SS0009809 

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 2018 PEN Pinter Prize acceptance speech. The recording was made at the British Library. With thanks to The Wylie Agency (UK) Limited. 

British Library shelfmark: C927/1981 

Labour MP Jess Phillips's address to the House of Commons in January 2019. Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0. 

Alice Walker reads her poem ‘First they said’. The recording was made at the Africa Centre in May 1985 and it is part of the African Centre Collection, digitised by the Unlocking Our Sound Heritage project. 

British Library shelfmark: C48/56 

Adrienne Rich reads her poem ‘Power’ at Conway Hall in June 1984 as part of the 1st International Feminist Book Fair collection. The recording was digitised by the Unlocking Our Sound Heritage project. 

British Library shelfmark: C154/2 

Benjamin Zephaniah performing his poem ‘This policeman keeps on kicking me’ at the Poetry Olympics festival, 1982. Recorded by the British Library at the Young Vic Theatre. 

British Library shelfmark: C92/2 C43 

‘Black and White for Apartheid’ performed by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in December 1964. It is part of the African Writers Club collection of radio programmes recorded in the 1960s in London. 

British Library shelfmark: C134/375 

Extracts from the British Library event called ‘Banned Books Week: Poetry in Protest’ in September 2021. Myanmarese-British poet Ko Ko Thett and Dr Choman Hardi, poet and scholar, speak to columnist Kate Maltby. 

An extract from ‘Oh Bondage Up Yours’, the 1977 debut single by X-Ray Spex. © BMG, X-Ray Spex/Poly Styrene, Westminster Music Ltd/TRO Essex Group. 

British Library shelfmark: 1CD0198888