Almost four years ago, I wrote a column in The Fulcrum titled A Democracy Roadshow. In it, I shared a belief that still guides me today: that the future of our democratic republic depends on everyday Americans perceiving the extraordinary power they already hold. I wrote then that more must be done — that we must think boldly and creatively to engage, excite, and involve more citizens in forming the country we all share.
Since then, something notable has happened. The pop culture section of The Fulcrum has become one of our most beloved features, proving what we believed from the start — that culture can be an impetus for civic renewal. Pop culture reaches people where they live, where they feel, and where they dream. It provides opportunities that politics alone cannot. And for four years, we’ve used that power to help spark a new civic voice rooted in connection, creativity, and hope.
Many of you have traveled this path with us through stories, music, poetry, and dance, which remind us of our common humanity. These cultural expressions have helped us imagine solutions, confront challenges, and call forth our better angels. And we are just getting started. The Fulcrum is committed to expanding the ways pop culture can help millions more Americans regain the joy, responsibility, and possibility of participating in our democracy.
If you feel inspired, you can take part in many ways. You can attend local cultural and musical events that bring communities together, or support organizations like Music in Common by volunteering your time or skills. Share your own stories, art, poetry, or music to spark conversations in your neighborhood or online. Invite friends and family to join you at performances or community discussions that celebrate creativity and diverse voices. By participating or spreading the word about these efforts, each of us can play an active role in renewing our democracy through culture.
Today, I want to highlight an organization that embodies this mission with extraordinary grace: Music in Common. Their work shows how music, perhaps the most global language we have, can dissolve barriers and heal divides that feel impossibly deep.
Founded in 2005 by singer‑songwriter and producer Todd Mack after the murder of his friend and bandmate Daniel Pearl, Music in Common began as an act of personal healing. Over time, it has grown into a global movement for connection, understanding, and action through music. Their performances, more than 400 across the world, combine storytelling, conversation, and artistry to create moments where unknown people become neighbors and audiences become communities. They’ve produced four albums, two documentary films, and engaged more than 100,000 people across continents.
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking with Todd Mack and Trey Carlisle about one of their signature initiatives: The Black Legacy Project. Launched in 2021, this musical celebration of Black history advances racial harmony and bridge‑building through 24 songs reimagined and written by Black and white artists during week‑long residencies across the country. Since its debut, the project has toured nationwide, curating experiences that help people across social divides find common ground through facilitated conversation and music.
The Black Legacy Project is a living example of what Todd Mack often says: that art possesses the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. Music, theatre, poetry, and all forms of pop culture carry extraordinary healing and connecting powers. When people come together, their energy for good can be amplified and scaled. By focusing on what unites us — and the role music can play — we can activate millions of Americans in a movement for renewal.
The project was recently featured on CNN’s Champions for Change, where Victor Blackwell interviewed Trey Carlisle and Todd Mack about their work. It’s a clear reminder of how music can generate collaboration and bring communities together in harmony.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2022/09/16/cfc-blackwell-mack-carl.cnn
Now more than ever, we need music's healing force to drown out the divisive voices at the extremes. Music reaches people’s souls. It reminds us of who we are at our best, and who we can become together. But music is just one avenue. Film, visual art, literature, and theater can also spark conversation, expand empathy, and rally citizens around a common purpose. Each form of pop culture offers its own way to reach hearts and minds, inviting millions to join a grassroots movement that scales our victories, promotes our values, and strengthens our democratic republic.
Together, WE can make a difference.
David Nevins is the publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.
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