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Bill Kelly: Music matters in shaping public attitudes

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce the nomination of Kirstjen Nielsen to be secretary of Homeland Security, in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, in Washington. AP Photo/Evan Vucci

Social media and mainstream media are abuzz about rapper Eminem’s compelling Donald Trump video that debuted on the BET Awards earlier this week.

I’m not at all surprised about the reaction to Eminem’s Trump cypher, because music and poetry have always had a huge impact on the social conscience of our society.

WATCH: Eminem raps out his rage against Trump

Click to play video: 'Eminem raps out his rage against Trump'
Eminem raps out his rage against Trump

Music and art touch our soul and the message it contains resonates with us far more than a hundred political speeches could.

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Bob Dylan’s classic, Blowin’ In The Wind, served as a wake-up call for a generation to become champions in the civil rights movement in the ’60s.

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WATCH: Eminem gives ultimatum to fans in anti-Trump freestyle at BET Awards

Click to play video: 'Eminem gives ultimatum to fans in anti-Trump freestyle at BET Awards'
Eminem gives ultimatum to fans in anti-Trump freestyle at BET Awards

And of course, John Lennon’s Give Peace A Chance became the anthem for the anti-war movement of the late ’60s and served as a catalyst for society to demand change in government policy.

Eminem’s anti-Trump rant is having the same kind of impact.

It’s edgy and provocative; the language is strong, but so is the message.

It’s not meant to sway people who embrace Trump’s divisive policies; it’s meant to empower the disenfranchised and victimized to rise up.

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Will Eminem’s Trump rant serve as a clarion call for people to resist the racism and misogyny and divisiveness of the Trump regime?

We can only hope so.

Bill Kelly is the host of Bill Kelly Show on AM 900 CHML and a commentator for Global News

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