How Did Popular Music Affect The Civil Rights Movement

1930’s songs about racism and freedom has helped and bought everyone together. America is still overcoming the pain and sorrow of slavery, including the freedom America represents. Songs representing freedom and racism are: “This Land is your Land” by ¬Woody Guthrie, “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday, The boxer by Paul Simon and “The Times They Are A-¬Changin” ¬ Bob Dylan. The messages greatly impacted Americans and change start to happen; creating new laws and amendments that helped African Americans have their freedom and be able to progress here in America. Music brings people together of all races and religions. That is the beauty of music, bringing people together creating interest. Through the sorrowful and heroic moments America has been through it help get situations done. If it weren’t for music would we have accomplished all that we

Music has been a template for expression since early man, it reaches the depths of a person’s soul by seeking out emotions. In society music plays a major role in the development of historical events, and musicians can be at the center of this due to their fan following. Some musicians just play to make money, while others play to make a statement. The ones that play to make a statement influence people, they also manage to give the people a voice that can be resonated throughout society. During the 1960’s this was a pivotal point for musicians to make a political statement, be it Civil Rights or the Vietnam War. A few of the artists that made political statements during this era would be Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and James Brown; however, there are many more artist who spoke their minds through their music. James Brown was influential in the Civil Rights movement by influencing the Black community through his music. Browns music offered pride, inspiration, and defiance.

We picked this song for many reasons. The first being that this song describes how the blacks felt as they were taking a stand for equality for all. “Ain’t gonna let injustice turn me around…” is a prime example as to how people of color wanted to prove that nothing could stand in the way of them fighting for their freedom. This song demonstrates the word state in many ways. The song is very repetitive in that it always repeats the phrase ”Ain’t gonna let ___ turn me around”. This shows how no matter what society throws at those who are fighting for their right to be equal, nothing will stop them from marching on. The song is also trying to prove a few key points. First, it’s trying to send the message that no matter how much you are put down you always have to keep fighting for what you believe in. The second message is that you should never let someone else’s opinion stop you from what you want to accomplish with your life. Keeping these two points in mind

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

Throughout American history, people have protested to create change in the time and circumstances in which they live. At the heart of every protest are grievances, such as experience of illegitimate inequality, feelings of relative deprivation, feelings of injustice, moral indignation about some state of affairs, or a suddenly imposed grievance (Stekelenburg). Whatever the reason, protests have been an important and present part of American society for many years. There are multiple ways in which people protest. People use books, magazines, and social media as forms of protest. Music is among the most important mediums, for the majority of society listens to and enjoys it. Songwriters and celebrities, tending to have an elevated presence in society, draw attention to subjects they believe should be spoken about in order to create change. Over the years, song artists have used their platform to show their objection to racial discrimination, war, and intolerance towards specific groups of people.

During the civil rights movement in the 60’s nonviolent protest was a popular method of expressing beliefs. While methods such as marches and boycotts were certainly beneficial, there is another aspect that is not often considered: music. “African American spirituals, gospel, and folk music all played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement.” Activist musicians had many songs that they used in a variety of ways, such as providing motivation during protests or strength against harassment (Music in the Civil Rights Movement). Though on the surface, music might not seem like it could make much of an impact, music definitely had a crucial role in the civil rights movement. In their interview with the Southern Oral History Program, folksingers

There are many key contributing factors to the Civil Rights Movement which have been thoroughly covered however, the influence of music seems to be an aspect that is far less developed. In order to assess just how significant music really was it is crucial to analyse its widespread significance, the nature of its appeal and key role models that contributed to its involvement within the Civil Rights Movement during the period 1962-1969, in order to detect just how influential it really was. Music is an expression of emotion so it is fair to say that music may have made a contribution to the Civil Rights Movement notably in the duration of 1962-1968 as the Civil Rights Movement proved to be at its highest peak especially following the March on Washington 1963[1]. A time when emotions were running high and the African American people needed an outlet for their emotion, music was there to meet their needs. It inspired the people to have the courage to make a stand against the discrimination placed upon them from a society dictated by whites.

The words “civil rights” trigger a sense in the human mind. One of remorse, passion, and hope in a cause worth fighting for. Those weathered by its raging storms refer to it as a turning point in American life after over a century under segregation that can only be described as a necessary silence that African Americans were forced to take on the matter. However, the human mind found itself a way to express those feelings that flowed from its veins. That expression of power and revolt was music. Music acted as the horses that pulled pearlescent chariots of liberty and freedom to the front doors of the White House through public protests, involvement of musical artists, and its impact on the lives and culture of those who were oppressed.

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

As with every decade, the 1960s were a tumultuous time filled with various social issues affecting a wide array of social groups. African Americans endlessly fought for their rights as a human being, women tried to achieve the same opportunities as men and dismantle workplace inequality, and families fought for their loved ones to come back from war. In their development, these diverse issues seem unrelated, but was eventually unified and blanketed as “social issues”. The merging, or convergence of these social issues was a direct result of a myriad of musical artists who perpetuated their opinions and feelings to all of America. These artists took the various “I’s” of social issues and were able to put them together and form a conglomeration, turning those “I’s” into “we.”

‘How many years can some people exist, before they’re allowed to be free. The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind.’ When we think of the US Civil Rights movement, there are always several pieces of rhythm come to our mind. Music, indeed, proved its unique magic throughout history. During the US Civil Rights movement, there were a group of people who weren’t politicians, yet made a huge impact, encouraged the process of the movement only using their talent and courage, they were musicians. Without the impact of music during that period, the world may not have become the same as it is today.

The most celebrated freedom song is “we shall overcome”. Which was made by tobacco workers, who performed the song for Zilphia Horton of the highlander folk school which had an important biracial training ground for activists interested in labor organizing and progressive democratic reform in the south This song was basically brought up to an unofficial anthem for the movement which was about hybrid nature and improvisational which was not just for the African American musical culture, but also of the movement itself. The song gave a spiritual energy moral and constitutional authority, and a valiant attempt at strategic planning, it was ultimately to be more concerned and aware with dogmatic notions of ideological or tactical correctness than

Music is a monumental element of black culture and protest, as well as the most influential. The struggles that people of color face in America have been expressed through songs and music for decades. Although a song may not be directly about struggling, they all come from a place of injustice. Music has changed with the passage of time, but many aspects remain and morph from the past. Protest songs from the mid-twentieth century civil rights movement contain various notable similarities to antebellum spirituals, specifically lyrically and in terms of rhetoric.

The lyrics tell the story of a slave and his “redemption songs”. He is basically saying even though our bodies are enslaved to these people, we can free our minds by singing these redemption songs.

“Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” by Pete Seeger became a popular anti-war protest song during the 1960s. This song did not only protest against the Vietnam War but also made their generation more aware about the global problems. Songs like “Not Ready to Make Nice” by Dixie chicks about freedom of speech was written after they received death threats for singing against the Iraq war, protests against the violation of human rights. But music is not only used to protest, it is also used to give hope and optimism. “We Shall Overcome”, a song sung by Guy Carawan together with the Montgomery Gospel Trio and the Nashville Quartet, is perhaps the best known example of civil rights song. Instead of blaming the government, this song registered a feeling of hope and faith among African-Americans during the civil rights movement.