Dr. Martin Luther King's 'Freedom'

Joan Baez was a white singer that sang “oh freedom”. She ended up singing it at Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I have a Dream’ speech. In the meaningful slow song Joan Baez expressed her wanting for equality and freedom.

Though the lyrical content of “Freedom” over speaks of empowerment, when they are combined with certain visual aspects, the viewer can see implication of the last presence of slavery in our society today and the hope that persist despite this presence. The clothing of the women in the audience wear is evocative of the Civil War period, where slavery still in full effect. The tree present in the scene is reminiscent of the hanging trees where slaves were executed during the same time period. Beyoncé herself has a ghost like glow to her as she stands up on the stage singing about “[breaking] chains all by [herself]”, indicating towards the hardships of slavery of those that came before her had to endure. Considering that this visual album as a whole arguably takes place in modern times, this scene brings together those references of the past with the events of the present. The black and white lighting show the duality of the two colors, signifying the still existing separation between the two races that still exists today. This shows that though slavery has been long abolished, its effects are still felt in current times. The scene does, however, show that even in these dark times, hope is not completely lost. Even though she appears restrained to the spot where she is standing while she sings, Beyoncé sings of freedom and how she will not give up on herself. Like the lights and fires that the illuminated the stage or the lanterns that lit up the banquet table, there is a semblance of hope that endures all the negativity present. This hope is that there is a possibly that change will eventually

Beyoncé Knowles, a well-known singer, songwriter uses two of her songs: “Freedom” and “Formation” to tell the story of herself. “Freedom” is the beginning of her story where she is searching for freedom and equality showing that there is still much inequality and injustice for African Americans in America today. The song slowly transitions to a more positive tone when she seems to have made something beneficial out of her difficult situation. “Formation,” however, has a completely different tone. While she does address negative situations from the past at the beginning of the song, she quickly transitions to a more positive tone full of pride in where she came from, who she has become, and what she has overcome. Together, the two songs

Common and John Legend did a collaboration on the song “Glory”. The genre of this song is Hip-Hop and soul. It was released on December 11, 2014 by Columbia Records as the theme song from the movie Selma which portrays the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. On January 12, 2015 a music video for the song “Glory” was directed by Paramount Pictures. The song won awards for Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015, 72nd Golden Globe Awards in 2015, as well as the award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 58th Annual Grammy Award in 2016. What this song has to say about Freedom is that it is a constant struggle for minority especially African Americans. Freedom is supposed to be a top priority for us (society). However, nobody realizes that African Americans do not have any freedom because we are being oppressed by society as well as the government. The speaker’s perspective is coming from African Americans that are fed up with the injustice in today’s society and they would like to fight for their freedom, equality, glory, and respect. The speaker’s intended audience is African Americans, Caucasians, Law enforcers, and the government. In the song Glory by Common and John Legend brings awareness to the injustice in today’s society, police brutality, racism, and the corrupt justice system which brings this song to show a mixture of logos and ethos.

Freedom songs were a key element to the development of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. During mass meetings, marches, and violent confrontations, music offered an outlet for people to express their emotions and a place to draw courage from. The ability of songs to draw together communities in order to build morale and support for the movement, while reaffirming the need for a nonviolent Movement in America during this period of time, profoundly contributed to the development of protest movements across the nation. However, though freedom songs appeared in many styles during the 1960s, with songs such as “We Shall Overcome” and those associated with Black Power like “Mississippi Goddamn” appearing in the same period, the role

A Change is Gonna to Come It’s hard to listen to songs about slavery or the civil rights movement without imaging the hardships and the unfairness that African American had to go through. Sam Cooke did that, writing a song that grads your attention and later after Cooke’s death would come more popular. He had a vision for the African Americans, and was not afraid to sing about what he felt was right.

Freedom and liberties are the most popular and significant topic in the United States. However, what’s the freedom and who can enjoy the freedom became the controversial arguments in America during its post-civil war period. Since people with different gender, different race, and even different customs may have their own opinions and prospects of the rights they should have, white Americans, African Americans, immigrants and even women were trying to define and strive for their own freedom. Compared African American and American women, after the reconstruction of the United States, the former one mainly strove for their personal liberty such as free marriage and political rights like voting because of their previous cruel life of slavery, whereas women not only strove for their equal rights but also their social respect due to their low social condition before war.

Martin Luther King is an extraordinary man who has accomplished great thing in his fight against injustice and segregation. like Selma and other cities it was clouded in a storm of racism but Martin Luther King came and reduced it to ash. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” (Martin Luther King) and I think of that wondering if I can live up to those words. Back in the 20’s through 60’s racism was at it’s strongest and it got worse. Martin Luther King had a role model that shaped Dr.King into the man he is and that was his father. Dr. King has achieved many accomplishments and fought many political fights to get Civil Rights.

Over half a century has passed since civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous “Letter from Birmingham City Jail” in 1963. He wrote his letter towards the Alabama clergymen, but he published it publicly. In his letter, Dr. King addresses injustice, segregation, and police brutality towards African Americans. Knowing that the public will read his letter, Dr. King makes sure he can relate, understand, and elaborate on the African-American conflicts and worries of never reaching the goals they want, civil rights, unity between African Americans and whites and the end of racism. Dr. King use rhetorical appeals, mainly pathos to progress from injustices towards African--Americans. There are a few quotes that shape the letter in my perspective, they form the relation between the author and the reader in order to bring about change.

Peaceful resistance in a free society does allow for mostly positive change. There are always going to be people in a society that feel that peaceful protests are contemptible, but if the resistance is for a just reason, such as desegregation and civil rights, then it is a matter of moral value and the conscience of the people and the governmental body. For example, when Martin Luther King Jr. set out for his peaceful sit-ins and marches, he was not hurting anyone. He was put in jail for not having a permit for a parade. Martin Luther King Jr. was willing to go to jail for what he believed to be just and going against unjust laws that were inhibiting African Americans from living the life they rightfully deserved as citizens of the United States

Freedom. Few would argue that the best place to experience freedom is in the United States of America. But where is the fine line between freedom and responsibility? Should everyone have freedom to be irresponsible? The USA’s founding fathers formed a constitutional republic for a responsible people to decide upon what ought to be done. Voters elect representatives who then make policies that (hopefully) are in accordance with the United States Constitution. This important document has been amended many times to expand voting rights to citizens. What if it were made to restrict them?

There was a great connection between Sam Cooke and him becoming a protest singer for Civil Rights. As a black man himself he was face with many troubles that African Americans faced during this time. The moment that triggered this song came “In the fall of 1963, Cooke faced a direct affront: He and his band were turned away from a Holiday Inn in Shreveport, La… he became obstreperous to the point where his wife, Barbara, said, 'Sam, we'd better get out of here. They're going to kill you.' And he says, 'They're not gonna kill me; I'm Sam Cooke.' To which his wife said, 'No, to them you're just another ...' you know."(www.npr.org). Within a few months of this altercation happening, “A Change Is Gonna Come” was in the works of being made. This moment shows the moment where the connection came together for him, that he needs to fight for his rights for himself and his family, through music. This song and his activism was the result of the discrimination that he faced during this time and also the discrimination that many other African Americans

In the article, the author states that music had an important infulence during civil rights movement that played a role on giving voices and reflecting the evolution of the movement. Most the songs were written about freedom, a radiant hope, faith, and equality, and they were shared expandly quickly. Moreover, a development of the music in the black struggle also reflects the evolution of the movement. For example, when people sing "Why We Can't Wait", the song helps them to give their wish about Black and White together someday. Malliha Jackson and Harry Belafonte was the most prominent music in the movement. "In the 1961, Freedom Rides songs played a critical role in sustaining morale for those serving time in Mississippi’s Hinds County

Dr. King fought for his rights as a black man. He fought because he wanted to be treated as nice as you would have treated a white man. He led marches and groups of people to gain rights for all black people. But he didn't just sit and stare at a tv and be a couch potato all day. He had to go to school and work hard to achieve what he wanted in his life.

Martin Luther King emphasizes their equality by stating that they will soon meet. They will meet not by racial differences, but as all being "fellow clergyman" and a brother in Christ. Martin Luther concludes his letter by predicting that "dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away" meaning that he believes that someday whether you're white or black won't matter. Circumstances will be no racism and accepting our races.