White Riot // The Clash
Quintessentially rebellious, overtly political and representative of a disillusioned generation, The Clash’s ‘White Riot’ is the perfect embodiment of a working-class anthem. Featured on the band’s self-titled debut album, released in 1977, ‘White Riot’ was written after The Clash attended Notting Hill Carnival, where they witnessed a riot that had broken out when the people of the carnival became frustrated due to the seemingly unjust arrests of many innocent young black people and the over-powering police presence on the day of the event.
These events inspired Strummer and co. to attempt to incite a similar passion for justice among the rest of the working class of Britain, who at the time were suffering greatly due to economic depression in a country rife with social problems. Despite the unfair society weighted strongly in favour of the rich that Britain then was, Strummer felt that the working class often seemed indifferent in the face of social issues.
Therefore, ‘White Riot’ is not only an anthem for the discordant working class of the late 70s, but also a call to arms in the name of social justice and economic equality. Despite the somewhat dated punk rock sound, ‘White Riot’ still holds a relevant and important message for the working class of today: stop idly blaming scapegoats and start fighting for an end to economic inequality.
Words by Harry Kite