Great African American musicians of the40’s, 50’s, especially 60’s and 70’s, like Jimi Hendrix for example, where not have always been in the headlines for the right reasons. They, Hendrix especially, were not always forefront leaders in movement like the Civil Rights era like Malcolm X or Martin Luther where.. That may be true, but by simply being a successful African American musician in times like these would speak volume, and have profound influence. Jimi Hendrix explained it bests, when he summed up the power behind, not just his music, but all music, when he told us... “Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” Nowhere and at no time was statement ever truer than at the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. Music preserved the history of the movement, was movement biggest advocate, largest supporter, and greatest leader. Music embodied the movement likewise to how Martin Luther King did. But of the countless protest and songs, some did this especially well. Songs like “We Shall Overcome”, “We shall not be moved”, and “Go, tell it on the Mountain”. But By the far the most common and powerful song of the era was Pete Seeger’s adaption of the old folk song “We Shall Overcome” (LOC) The first refrain of which reads “We shall overcome; we shall overcome someday, Oh deep in my heart I do believe we will overcome.”(LOC) This was the anthem for the movement. It was sung in Church, school, in the streets, on the protest. It was the motto that summed the entire movement up into three simple words., that really empowered African-American. The song itself has traveled and evolved along with the Blacks as they ventered from slaves to fully equal citizens. It was original... ... middle of paper ... ...the entire nation. The song still remains today. Often regarded as one of the most motivating and inspiring works of that era in history, as well as the decades before Civil Rights. This is an one few examples of the power behind music to embody ideals, immortalize the beliefs and struggles. Works Cited http://www.loc.gov/teachers/lyrical/songs/overcome.html http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/go-tell-it-on-the-mountain,-the-song-and-the-story.html http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/go-tell-it-on-the-mountain,-the-song-and-the-story.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/we-shall-overcome_b_3835195.html http://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/default/files/swf/jukebox/jukebox6.php http://www.opengovernmentrecords.net/drupal/node/65
Artists write about what they know; they pull feelings from their heart and their songs relay what the artists’ emotions, whether it be of their hometown, their high school crush, or their experiences. Many artists that came to fame during the twentieth century have a fair share of experiences they share with us in the form of their songs. The twentieth century is comprised of the institution of slavery and its effects, war, gender norms, discrimination based on nationality, sex, race, etc., and countless events that sparked protests and uproars in the United States. Music at this time was a phenomenon, and artists could use it to their advantage. Artists used their music to spread awareness about their cause, influence their listeners, and
The NAACP used their platform in society to move away from Black Nationalism into their own agenda of welfare and interracial political campaigning (Redmond 64). As with “Ethiopia”, the anthem was used to unite the political aspirations of the NAACP. Because of its presence in the black community in the south, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” brought in that demographic that was missing from the NAACP. Without this the organization would not have been the powerhouse that it became which in turn helped with the agenda and brought the NAACP into the national foreground. While being a political stepping stone, the anthem brought together Japanese achievements that would in turn help with black culture (Redmond 82). Because of the interest in the anthem, the cultures of Japan and black America would help further the NAACP. Japan’s prominence in the world gave the blacks the international platform that they needed that gave more stability to their position as a political and cultural standing in society. “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” anthem showed that some of these anthems had their benefits to a political organization. Redmond stated the song “has retained the institutional title of anthem in the Black United States (273-274). Anthems can be beneficial to the political organization that they stand for and this song proves that. By staying in prominence “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” has established the NAACP as an organization is still influential today even though it has a long history that could have ended it trajectory into mainstream
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. As a person against “civil rights”, it was viewed as a very simple matter, the music of the era was the devil’s work and needed to be stopped. Those approving of “civil rights” just pushed the activists further and further to the freedoms they believed that African Americans deserved.
In the land of the free, home of the brave, events showed how much of a lie this slogan was. Slavery was prominent in the South but was no more following the Civil War which would make one think America would return to the promise they offer of freedom. But after the abolition of slavery, racism simply took it’s place leaving African Americans in a not-so-free America. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Jelly Roll Morton, and others involved in the Harlem Renaissance transformed America into what we know today. Through musical outlets, the Harlem Renaissance or Jazz Age changed the perspective of those listening to accept the fact that all men were created equal. Possibly defined as one of the most influential characters in the Jazz Age,
From his wealth of protest songs like "The Bourgeois Blues” and "Scottsboro Boys." to his ability to cross class and race lines to perform in colleges and for educational radio programs teaching the White man about his people, the places he had lived and the stories that had been passed down to him via song, must have given him not only a tremendous sense of purpose but joy in sharing what he loved to do most. His music gave him a voice in an era where other poor black men had no voice at all.
It spoke to the masses about common issues that many people faced every day. With issues ranging from tax raises, the war in Vietnam, and second-class living standards, this poem was an inspiration and a voice of the people who could not speak up for themselves and made an effort to challenge the norm that was set by the government. Many people found that the collaboration between Hughes and Simone to be a turning point in Africa-American culture. It called for an equal treatment of all the classes no matter what race or ethnicity they were. “Try to find myself a job to earn a little cash, all you got to offer is a white backlash.” (Lines 16 through 18, stanza 3) These lines show that the civil rights of African-Americans was not equal to the whites and the backlash from an unequal society was hurting the African-American community. The song was also very popular in the “Back to Africa Movement” because of its call that many people interpreted to be a call for the community to go back to its roots. This song and poem was the driving force behind an entire generation and was a key part in the civil rights
Some, not all, African Americans truly believe that they are enslaved of their freedom and are still in bondage by their past, present and future. Even though there are accurate facts about what happened to their ancestors who were slaves; this matter should not be personalized. If it wasn’t for the slave survivors, civil rights activists and leaders, politicians who knew their facts and did their research, and the African American literature; a lot of information would not be known today. However, what really broadens a wider perspective of expressions, opinions and experiences that outreached the masses is brought about in music. In the African American
Music can be traced back into human history to prehistoric eras. To this day archeologists uncover fragments of ancient instruments as well as tablets with carved lyrics buried alongside prominent leaders and highly influential people. This serves as a testament to the importance and power of music, as well as its influence in society. Over its many years of existence, music’s powerful invocation of feelings has allowed it to evolve and serve many purposes, one being inspiring change. American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson once said, “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel.” This fuel is the very things that powers the influence of Rock ‘n’ Roll on American society, that author Glenn C. Altschuler writes about in his book, “All Shook Up – How Rock ‘n’ Roll Changed America.” Between 1945 and 1965 Rock ‘n’ Roll transformed American society and culture by helping to ease racial integration and launch a sexual revolution while most importantly developing an intergenerational identity.
Music has often played a role in political and social events; however, those events were usually focused on a smaller population (i.e. Swing low, Sweet Chariot for slaves1 and We Shall over Come for African American civil rights). Folk singers had become active in the civil rights movement with songs like “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” by Bob Dylan and “Birmingham Sunday” by Joan Baez.2 The Vietnam War affected the masses and music became a method to unite the public and express disapproval to America’s involvement in Vietnam.
The stories of the African American journey and perspective told through jazz songs introduced society to the struggle of blacks everywhere and eventually allowed to develop a sense of purpose. Firstly, ”The true story of jazz,
Often what makes this music so powerful is the chorus. In August 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial during A. Philip Randolph's March on Washington, folk singer Joan Baez led a crowd of 300,000 in singing the main anthem of the Civil Rights movement, ‘We Shall Overcome.’ . This event shows the power of the chorus, everyone was immersed in that atmosphere, nobody could ignore its appealing power. The chorus gave every one of the individuals a sense of unity and strength, made them feel they were part of something bigger than themselves, something that could not be
This poem represents the resiliency of the African American spirit, Although African Americans were enslaved, overworked and victimize the speaker is still proud to be a “Negro.” The speaker wanted to be the voice that represented all the unfair and injustice experience African American endured. Most importantly he wanted to end the poem they way he started the poem… Proud to be a “Negro.”
Traditional gospel music was written to be performed to express the African Americans’ personal feelings of Christianity. During the 1950’s, African Americans were segregated from the whites. Black Americans believed that the U.S. should be integrated not segregated. The civil rights movement came into play because of the large range of discrimination in the U.S. Gospel music was a tool for resistance during the Civil rights movement, because many protestors would sing hymns instead of violently protesting in the streets. Black Americans would sing freedom songs that influenced their rights against discrimination. Gospel music gave African Americans strength to not violently protest in the streets because they knew violence wasn’t the way to go. To express the relationship of African American traditional gospel music to their struggle towards freedom after the World War II era.
Protest and marches were taking place by both blacks and whites together. The power of a community coming together for change was being felt and heard of in the US although violence was not completely gone. The poem Still I Rise, expresses hope by concluding, “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, / I am the dream and the hope of the slave. / I rise/ I rise/ I rise (Angelou 39-43). Angelou is comparing herself with the gift, she is the gift that her suffering ancestors left, so she is left with a purpose to make a change and rise not only for herself but for African Americans. In like matter, one of the most known activist is Martin Luther King Jr. who was one of many civil right leaders. King was part of the Massachusetts Boycott, he expanded the civil rights movement, and was always giving marches and speeches for change. His most famous speech is “I Have a Dream”. King was assassinated for defending what he believed for and is still remembered till this
Considered a touchy topic for some people, the African American resistance movement had many factors contributing to its success. Some may debate how some of these factors served a legitimate purpose, but this film discusses the role of music. We gain an insight into some individuals who believed the music acted as a vital contributor to the movement while others felt it became popular because of the movement. Personally, I stand on the side that believes the music acted as a catalyst in the movement. This film provides us with many examples of the black South Africans using the music to fuel their resistance. In fact, I do not understand how you can have any other viewpoint after watching this film because it thoroughly explains how certain