Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" was written to be a protest anthem, and after its resurgence amidst protests for racial justice, it was only a matter of time before the band took the song a step further.

On Friday (January 15), the band unveiled Killing In Thy Name — a 15-minute documentary collaboration with international artists collective The Ummah Chroma that follows a teacher educating students on the history of oppression in America.

“The following is a document of true events,” the film's intro reads. “Our aim is for this piece to be a fire escape from the fiction known as whiteness and a spring for discovery. Remember, the children are always watching.”

"Killing In The Name" soundtracks the documentary, which concludes with footage of RATM performing the iconic track while quotes from its band members appear on screen.

“My mom [Mary Morello] is a white woman with a radical voice,” wrote Tom Morello. “For three decades she was a progressive teacher in a conservative high school inspiring students to challenge the system – in her actions and words she has always taught that racism must never be ignored and must always be confronted.”

“Writing songs that have something to say about what’s going on socially and politically isn’t a choice for us. It’s an obligation. I want to use music as a weapon and start spraying fools,” added bassist Tim Commerford.

“The music wouldn’t exist without the politics,” drummer Brad Wilk confessed. “When we’re playing a show, if something clicks for any one kid in the audience – starting that change, that process of thinking for themselves – that’s the most potent time Rage Against the Machine can have as a band.”

Watch Killing In Thy Name above.

Photo: Getty Images

Dana McKenzie

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