Popular Music: The Goal Of The Civil Rights Movement

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The goal of the civil rights movement was to end racism, promote peace, and to place federal laws stating that all were equal no matter the race. Spiritual, gospel, and folk music played an important role. Musicians and singers collaborated with song activists to distribute their songs through large meetings, and publication. Their songs were made to motivate others while they went on long marches and give confidence to those affected by harassment, bullying, and to pass time. The music usually reflected the themes brought by the civil rights movement. These were usually American protest songs found in popular music. Odetta, born in December of 1930, is most known for her song “Oh Freedom,” which she sang in The March of Washington in 1963.

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