Music has a long legacy of responding to social inequalities and injustices. Creating music can act as a weapon for social justice, a tactic enabling artists to use their talents and platforms to combat inequities. For this reason, Bruce Campbell Jr., Ph.D. created the Dust + Dignity project, an educational experience promoting dialogue and advancing social justice through the exploration of the relationship between music, visual art, and our society. Even its name, Dust + Dignity, points towards social activism. “Dust” represents the digging up of old records and archives, while “Dignity” represents the value of minorities during an era marred by an outing of racial ignorance that has long existed in our country and the world. What began as an audio and visual exhibition has expanded into a movement that has already received attention for its artful activism.

With the Dr. Norman Johnston Faculty Fellowship, Dr. Campbell is exploring a new direction of this project based on his existing research and scholarly interest. The Dust + Dignity Podcast and Workshops hope to uncover the connections between social justice and leadership that individuals demonstrate within the work they do every day. To do so, the podcast highlights those individuals throughout the globe who have been purposely promoting social justice themes and embodying leadership in their workplaces. By leveraging these leaders’ stories and practices, the project intends to foster the development of other individuals interested in using self-analysis, inquiry and purposeful reflection to continually improve their own practices.

Participants will enhance their leadership abilities and broaden their ideas of what is possible through readings, web media tools, guest speakers, role-plays, and activities. Participants will leave this workshop with an "insider" understanding of the evolution and anatomy of a social movement campaign and develop an Action Plan to bring to their home communities. This could be work they want to do within their current career or as an aside. Participants already engaged in a campaign, or those invested in social change would be encouraged to join.

Latest Podcasts


  • D+D S4 Ep16
    Dust and Dignity Podcast

    Dust + Dignity Podcast: Episode 16 Rhythm of the Drum We can’t discuss Black music without mentioning the drum. I’m sure this...
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  • D+D S4 Ep15
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    Dust + Dignity Podcast: Episode 15 The Drum Major Instinct To celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday Dr. Campbell explores Dr....
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  • D+D S4 Ep14
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    Dust + Dignity Podcast: Episode 14 Black Music's Roots in Social Justice Advocacy - Setting the Stage To kick off season 4...
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  • Dust + Dignity Podcast S2 Ep 11 VOTE PLAIN Artwork
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    Dust + Dignity Podcast: Episode 11 VOTE : Fall 2020 As the Fall 2020 election approaches, Dr. Bruce Campbell Jr. wanted to stress...
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    In episode 8, we got to chat with Rochelle Nichols-Solomon. She is an educator and social justice activist with more...
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    In this 6th episode, we were able to chat with Deborah Gordon Klehr. She is She is the Executive Director...
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    In this 5th episode, we were able to chat with Samantha-Jane Ofoegbu. She is an artist, fashion designer, cultural ambassador,...
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    In this 4th episode, we were able to chat with a leader and academic scholar Dr. Jeffrey Carroll.
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    In this 3rd episode, we got to chat with a wonderful leader, Maryam April Pugh.
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    In this latest episode, we got to chat with a dynamic leader, Dr. Monica J. Taylor.
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