ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pop music and cultural change have always gone hand-in-hand. From the smashing of rock and roll’s race barrier and Bob Dylan to Neil Young, Public Enemy and Rage Against The Machine, various styles of songs have documented, responded to and even helped inspire social action.

The recent protests and violence have rocked communities nationwide — including those around Tampa Bay. Considering music’s close relationship with such times of uncertainty, Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to a cross-section of the area’s songwriters, musicians and performers to ask how they felt about what was happening. Here are a dozen of their responses.

Jack Sprouse. (Photo courtesy of Jack Sprouse)

It just makes me sad that in 2020 we are still trying to figure out how to treat each other well. —Jack Sprouse, solo musician/Band of Sorrows

It's about time that other ethnicities and races are finally coming out in droves to speak out about the injustices that black people face on a regular basis. It's unfortunate that it took the murder of George Floyd to get this response but here we are. I want everyone to keep this energy long after the protests die down to continue to work together to eradicate systemic racism once and for all. Black people aren't charity cases. We just want a fair shot at living a successful life just like the next guy. —Rashad “Shadcore” Harrell, emcee/songwriter

The music we've been making for the past 10 years has been explicitly about how everything is political, and about the anger, frustration, and confusion many of us are experiencing now; detailing the connection between art and activism would be redundant. What the protests make me feel that's new is hope. Not a vague, useless optimism for a better future, but a genuine hope that enough of us will finally begin to push back against those who would make the world more unjust that it may tip in our favor. —James Bess, Permanent Makeup

Black lives matter. The protests are long overdue and the protesters are peaceful. If I wasn't disabled I would be there with everyone else. —Susie Richardson Ulrey, Pohgoh

Michael Hoag of Cottondale Swamp. (Photo courtesy of Michael Hoag)

I fully support the protests. We have a racism problem and we have to deal with it. White privilege is very real. The looters for the most part are idiots taking advantage of a situation. But the protests are so large because it is time for systemic change and there is a lot of pent-up anger against Trump. —Michael Hoag, Cottondale Swamp

While I and Navin Ave. stand in solidarity with the protesters, even breaking our 100 percent quarantine in order to march last weekend, and fully believe that black lives matter and are willing to fight for social justice [...] we feel like our voices aren’t as important to this movement as the voices of the people who are actively experiencing systemic racism and oppression. —Shae Krispinski, Navin Ave.

Now is a time more than ever for us musicians and artists to use our creativity to help spread a feeling of unity and express our outrage over the state of the country. This is easier said than done with venues beings closed and the opportunity to publicly voice our opinions stifled due to the pandemic… [we] played an online set for the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign’s Concert for Peace and Equality, which probably reached more people than if we just played a local club—so that felt encouraging. I've usually stayed away from topical lyrics in my songs and art primarily because I've never wanted to date the work. But I think it's more important than ever to make it our duty to express this frustration through art. —Adam Turkel, The New Brutarians

On a national level, I have felt literally heartbroken at what has gone down and what I have actually seen live on TV. I was hoping that something as simple as having a decent man in office [Mayor Rick Kriseman] who has supported every kind of diversity in our city, as opposed to the current fascist regime in DC, could make a difference. But the people have a right to be angry, scared, and wary. How do we solve 400 years of systemic racism in our country? As a gay man, I have felt an iota of the hate and repression that the black community has suffered. But being white, I could hide. That’s a huge difference. We rebel, make our voice heard, and vote. —Ricky Wilcox, The Little Kings, Ricky Wilcox & The Moonsnakes

The kneeling during the Anthem was a request for conversation. The conversation was not had. Leaders in law enforcement and our communities must have a discussion about what is expected of each other. Neither Obama nor Trump have advanced this critical issue. —Greg Czinke, The Black Honkeys

Rubber bullets, tear gas, and flash bangs are being used in attempt to quiet the voices of and assert dominance over peaceful Americans exercising our First Amendment right to peacefully petition a government that has treated black Americans with less dignity and right to life than white Americans, to the point of killing them in broad daylight, in the streets, unprovoked (...)  Even the most patient people are angry, and rightly so. How long does one say "excuse me, please stop killing our community," only to be met with militarized police force, before we expect sparks will fly? —Tim Ogden, The Path of Increased Indifference

Ronny Elliott. (Photo Courtesy of Ronny Elliott)

I Wasn't really aware of my level of despair until the protests started. Now I'm surprised at my level of hope. This has been the greatest upheaval in my very long lifetime. I have seldom been as optimistic about a future. —Ronny Elliott, songwriter

Travis Parker of The Inhalers. (Photo courtesy of Travis Parker)

Evil is as evil does and the pen is mightier than the sword. Write a song, change the world. Oh, and a loud guitar is also mightier than the sword. —Travis Parker, The Inhalers