We Shall Overcome

1950 Words4 Pages

Protest Song Research Essay: We Shall Overcome

“We shall overcome!” shouted the Civil Rights Movement activists. This quote was their unofficial anthem, and a repetitive theme during the mid 1950’s to late 1960’s. At a time of hopelessness and oppression, the African American community in Birmingham, Alabama linked arms and prayed for a brighter future. As fellow brothers and sisters they marched, protested and endured police brutality for one cause: freedom. As their leader, Martin Luther King Jr. led a profound movement that changed American history. The meaning behind “We Shall Overcome” is what the African Americans strived for during the Civil Rights Movement…equality and justice.

Peter “Pete” Seeger was an American Folk musician during the 1940’s and was known for his folk group with Woody Guthrie, the Almanac Singers. The Almanac Singers recorded songs about empowerment such as social justice, workers’ rights, and peace. Their band came to a halt when Seeger was drafted in 1942, however that did not stop him from producing music. In 1947, Seeger formed a new band called the Weavers, with Lee Hays, Fred Hellerman, and Ronnie Gilbert. In 1955, due to the rise of McCarthyism, Seeger was subpoenaed to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Seeger was accused of having affiliation with Communism and when questioned he refused to plead the Fifth Amendment and name personal and political associations on the grounds that this would violate his First Amendment rights. Seeger's refusal to testify led to the 1957 indictment for contempt of Congress. He was convicted in a jury trial of contempt of court in March 1961, and sentenced to ten years in jail, but in May 1962 an appeals court ruled the indictmen...

... middle of paper ...

...finitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 03 Feb. 2012. .

"1971- Independence War of Bangladesh." Bangla2000 - The Largest Portal of Bangladesh. Bangla2000. Web. 03 Feb. 2012. .

"Lyrics, We Shall Overcome Lyrics." SoundTrack Lyrics Source #1. Any Movie, Musical, TV, Cartoon! St. Lyrics. Web. 03 Feb. 2012. .

"“We Are the Many,” by Makana (w/ Lyrics and Chords)." A Civil American Debate. World Press, 14 Nov. 2011. Web. 03 Feb. 2012. .

"We Shall Overcome - Lyrical Legacy (Library of Congress)." Library of Congress Home. Web. 03 Feb. 2012. .

Show More
Related

  • In the 1960's, People Turned to Music for Hope, Peace, and Happiness

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    Joan Baez, a famous folk singer, sang her most famous song “Oh Freedom” during the civil rights movement. She expressed her want and need for equality and freedom f...

    Read More

  • Fannie Lou Hamer and Malcolm X

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...actions on the part of Black activists empowered a generation to struggle for their most basic civil rights.

    Read More

  • Lyndon B Johnson Use Of Ethos Pathos Logos

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    On March 15, 1965 in Washington D.C …….. the courageous President Lyndon B. Johnson has delivered a legendary speech. It was called, “We shall overcome.” The speech came into conjunction, after the sad death of a black protester in Selma, Alabama. The protest was over black voting rights.

    Read More

  • The Civil Rights Movement and Bombingham

    1169 Words  | 3 Pages

    What has been described here has kept African Americans proud of where they came from and how they can overcome any problem that they are faced with. The phrase “Strength in numbers” comes to mind when reading what they had to endure especially the families of the four little girls that died in the devastating bombing of the 16th street church. They will always be remembered and missed dearly.

    Read More

  • Howard Zinn Chapter 17 Analysis

    1507 Words  | 4 Pages

    Through every single obstacle a person went through no one gave up. Colored people did not lose hope in becoming equal to white people because they knew they were capable. What the author was trying to prove was exactly that. Although blacks were slaves and were always belittled by white they proved to be more than what the whites thought they were capable of. They stood up for themselves and they did it in several events that occurred in the book. For example, in the chapter a black teenager, James Crawford, was not slightly intimidated by a deputy registrar that attempted to sound intimidating. In the conversation the registrar made some menacing remarks to this young African American teenager saying he would put a bullet through the teenagers head. Not afraid at all, Crawford valiantly told him if it happened he would be dead, but people would come from all over the world. This young man was not afraid to stand up for himself and was not going to tolerate it in any way. Malcolm X was another inspiration to African Americans for the way he stood up for them. He had a strong connection with the people who were influenced by him. In late 1964, Malcolm X told a group of black students from Mississippi, “You’ll get freedom by letting your enemy know that you’ll do anything to get your freedom; then you’ll get it” (Zinn 461). This quote connected to how

    Read More

  • We Shall Overcome Ethos Pathos Logos

    1515 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the 1960’s America was divided over the voting rights of African Americans. It was a time of racial and political unrest as president Lyndon B. Johnson encouraged Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act. On March 16, 1965 “We Shall Overcome” was delivered to congress. Lyndon B. Johnson was elected vice president of the United States in 1960 and became the 36th president in 1963. Throughout his speech Johnson uses a variety of strategies to persuade the nation that African Americans have the right to vote. Some of these strategies include ethos, logos, and pathos.

    Read More

  • America, by Claude McKay

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    Though dealing with the situation is difficult, the poem goes on to express that going through this ordeal has only strengthened the resolve of the African American community. Lines 4-9 of this poem speak to toughness and resolve of the African American community in the fight to gain equality. McKay even goes as far ...

    Read More

  • The History Of Forced Migration

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout early American history, musical repertories have shown traces of how painful and agonizing the experiences that African American’s had dealt with during the Slave era and how painful and tragic the transition was. This a moment in African American history in which developing a new culture was a difficult process, due to the fact that they were previously stripped away from their homeland and were forced to adapt a new way of life. Spirituals were introduced throughout the culture of African American Slaves as a new form of musical expression who had converted to New World

    Read More

  • Star Spangled Banner

    1388 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people hail “The Star Spangled Banner” as the greatest piece of American music. The audiences of America’s national anthem seem, instinctively, eager to express their respect by embracing the notion to remove their hats and stand up. However, not many people ponder over the question of what “The Star Spangled Banner” truly means. What does it mean? Why does it deserve so much reverence and honor? What exceptional difference allows it to prevail over the masterpieces of prominent composers like Mozart and Beethoven? The answer is fairly simple. “The Star Spangled Banner” symbolizes America’s perseverance, its set of moral laws and ethics, and its history that constitutes what America truly means.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis: Lyndon Johnson's Speech

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    We Shall Overcome Rhetorical Analyses Throughout the history of the United States, racial discrimination has always been around our society. Many civil rights movements and laws have helped to minimize the amount of discrimination towards every single citizen, but discrimination is something that will not ever disappear. On March 15, 1965, Lyndon Baines Johnson gave a speech that pointed out the racial injustice and human rights problems of America in Washington D.C. He wanted every citizen of the United States to support his ideas to overcome and solve the racial injustice problems as a nation. Throughout the speech, Lyndon Johnson used several rhetorical concepts to persuade the audience.

    Read More

  • Martin Luther King's Successful Philosophy

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nearly three centuries ago, black men and women from Africa were brought to America and put into slavery. They were treated more cruelly in the United States than in any other country that had practiced slavery. African Americans didn’t gain their freedom until after the Civil War, nearly one-hundred years later. Even though African Americans were freed and the constitution was amended to guarantee racial equality, they were still not treated the same as whites and were thought of as second class citizens. One man had the right idea on how to change America, Martin Luther King Jr. had the best philosophy for advancing civil rights, he preached nonviolence to express the need for change in America and he united both African Americans and whites together to fight for economic and social equality.

    Read More

  • Civil Rights Obstacles

    312 Words  | 1 Pages

    Have you ever heard the quote, “Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition”? When I hear that quote, I think of another quote I know, “There is no progress without struggle”. I agree with both of these quotes and have seen examples of them throughout my life. One such example is the Civil Rights Movement.

    Read More

  • Bangladesh Genocide Research Paper

    605 Words  | 2 Pages

    On March 26th, 1971, the independence of Bangladesh was announced over the radio from the city of Chittagong on the account of the Awami League and their leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Soon, a resistance was organized in all the cities and towns of the country by the Awami League politicians, Bengali

    Read More

  • Essay On Civil Rights Movement

    2889 Words  | 6 Pages

    Massive protests against racial segregation and discrimination broke out in the southern United States that came to national attention during the middle of the 1950’s. This movement started in centuries-long attempts by African slaves to resist slavery. After the Civil War American slaves were given basic civil rights. However, even though these rights were guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment they were not federally enforced. The struggle these African-Americans faced to have their rights ...

    Read More

  • Richard Wright's 12 Million Black Voices: Photo and Text

    1906 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ey for African-Americans. 12 Million Black Voices could not have depicted it better. Their unhappiness, shown on their faces in the photo, their weariness, fear, hopes, and highlights talked of in the text worked together to give us a look into the African-American life then. Today, our lives are better. African-Americans’ lives are better. We have more opportunity and more equality. What we do not have, we fight for. Yet we still see the traces of the past sufferings of our people’s lives today. We still see those traces of racism they were subjected to being repeated in our kin’s lives. And so the struggle continues, but with time it gets better. And this is the new hope. That one day racism will not exist and that no other will suffer like they did.

    Read More

More about We Shall Overcome

Open Document