Role of Music in American Civil Rights Movement

This essay discusses the role played by music during the civil rights movements. It discussed how musicians came forward, how they were inspired to penned down strong lyrics, how music served as the voice of the protest and how it encouraged people to fight for their democracy. The essay also mentioned some popular songs and musicians who played a major role in the movement. The significance of music during the movement has been highlighted throughout the essay.

Running head: ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTS
Role of Music in American Civil rights movement
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Introduction
Music played a significant role during the time of Civil Right Movement in America.
Many African Americans witnessed really hard times during the Civil rights Movement as they
were discriminated (Morris 1986). The movement followed non-violent way of protest. Thus
most of the protesters did not opt for weapons rather they choose the power of the music as the
voice of the protest. Music encouraged the people to fight for their democracy creating a ray of
hope for the African American who were struggling during then for justice (Feldstein 2005).
Common people along with musicians came forward to strengthen the protest. Eminent
musicians as well as activists contributed to the movement by writing songs which would reflect
the events of the Civil Right Movement in America. The joining of the musicians in the
movement unified the people during the movement in order to keep their morale high. The
musicians not only joined the movement but gave a shape to it. Among all the genres, Jazz was
the most popular music during the time of movement (Waksman 1998). Many African and
American performed jazz music after hours conveying the message of unity. Other genres like
hymn also had a significant impact on the movement. A renowned activist states music as the
‘soul of the movement’. He further stated that the role played by music in their struggle is indeed
vital and of great importance.
Significance
The musicians could realize that the music could be an important tool, which would
further strengthen the movement (Morris 1986).. Musicians joined in the rallies and other protest
movements to encourage citizens to join in the movement. Some musicians wrote songs with

2ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
strong lyrics while others came forward in the protest events (Gendron 1986). Along with the
musicians, the activists also turned to music during the rallies and even the protest events in jail.
The active participation of the musicians had elevated the movement to new dimension. As
evident in the history, the people were highly motivated and encouraged by the music to join the
protest events (Morris 1986)..
The songs were dedicated to the injustice of slavery and racism, which remained in the
memory of the citizens for a long. Their love for the music and the culture revealed that the
African American will remain unified and it deserves mention that even when the chances of
getting caught was so high, they continued to stay united through music (Morris 1986).
Throughout the whole civil right movement, a genre of music called ‘freedom songs’ became
popular enough. As the freedom songs served as the medium of unity or togetherness between
the white and black during the Civil Right Movement, the freedom songs also were used for the
political purpose in order to gain the national attention (Reed 2005).
During protests, marches, demonstrations, rallies, the songs were sung in order to create
awareness among the nationals against the brutality and harassment. It will be very apt to assert
that the freedom songs encouraged the nationals with the psychological strength to become
united (Reed 2005). Most of the popular song during the time emerged as freedom songs
providing the purpose to the movement. One example can be stated with the famous song ‘Times
Are a Changing’. The song was written by Bob Dylan exclusively for the Civil Right Movement
(Eyerman 2002).
The Civil Right Movement is one the social justice movement that holds greatest
importance in history. History reveals that music has been playing a crucial role whenever there

3ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
is a social as well as political crisis occurred (Eyerman 2002). Thus the Civil Right Protest is no
exception. Countless marches, protests and rallies associated with music were nothing but served
for the national interest. The primary aim of the civil right movement was to put end to racism
thus spreading peace (Urbain 2015). The joining of the musicians in the movement unified the
people during the movement in order to keep their morale high. The musicians not only joined
the movement but gave a shape to it. Among all the genres, Jazz was the most popular music
during the time of movement. Many African and American performed jazz music after hours
conveying the message of unity. Other genres like hymn also had a significant impact on the
movement (Eyerman 2002). A renowned activist states music as the ‘soul of the movement’. He
further stated that the role played by music in their struggle is indeed vital and of great
importance. The motto of the movement was to developing the federal law in order to ensure that
every national of the country is treated fairly and justly regardless of race (Urbain 2015).
Thus during the initial stage of the movement, music was solely dominated by the
Spirituals songs of Africa and the Christian hymns. However, genres like folk, soul concepts and
gospel were included in the new genre of music which was named as freedom songs (Chong
2014). Till then music served as the driving force to remain psychologically close. However, it
expanded and served as the support which was financial. The many eminent musicians arranged
concerts to promote importance of Civil Right Movement and the establishment of federal law.
The moony collected during the shows were perfectly utilized for the noble cause of national
interest (Urbain 2015).

4ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Songs
There were many songs which were influential in strengthening the movement as the
musicians as well as citizens could realize that the music could be an important tool, which
would further strengthen the movement. Musicians joined in the rallies and other protest
movements to encourage citizens to join in the movement. Some of them wrote songs with
strong lyrics while others came forward in the protest events (Chong 2014). Along with the
musicians, the activists also turned to music during the rallies and even the protest events in jail.
Some of the most popular songs which not only had relevance with the then social condition but
equally important I today’s world have been mentioned below (Riches 2017).
‘‘We shall overcome’’
The song was originally written by Charles Albert Tindley in the year of 1901 as “I will
overcome some day” (Whitehead 2008). Later it was publicly performed in 1940s, during a
protest rally by labors and finally in the year of 1959, the song became associated with the
movement of civil rights. Thereafter the title of the song changed into “we shall overcome”.
Gradually, the song became on e of the most important song that had a greater influence on the
movement (Whitehead 2008). The song was grossly sung not only by the musicians but by all
the citizens of America. During the movement, the song was sung by the famous Martin Luther
King, Junior in several public gatherings.
“This Little Light of Mine”
Harry Dixon Loes had written the song in the 1920s. Despite being a white from the
North America, Dixon raised his voiced against the racism and injustice that the African
American experienced. Many activists and musicians sung the song during the Civil Right

5ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
Movement in the country. In the narrative of the Civil Rights Movement, some excerpts of the
song are seen, which have been adapted by Zilphia Horton (Whitehead 2008).
“Oh freedom”
The song ‘Oh freedom’ brought the real image of the movement through its lyrics. The
song was written based the idea of injustice and brutality that matched with the time in a true
way. It was sung by Juan Don on a morning before the speech of Martin Luther King. The song
is slow and while singing it, Joan strongly revealed her wish to get the freedom, the equality
(Whitehead 2008). Through its lyrics, the song inspired many people of the country to come
forward and realize how the then societal condition the victim of brutalism and discrimination.
The civilization of the country was depressed as discrimination engulfed the American society
(Rosenthal 2001). Many people were made aware about the social crisis after being the inspired
by the song. The song in other way assisted Joan significantly to become a recognized I the
world of music as well as among the musicians (Monson 2007). It also helped her in moving
ahead towards the career of a folk singer. Her performance on that particular day made her a
well-known singer and her performance engraved her name in the pages of history of American
Civil rights movements forever.
The songs were dedicated to the injustice of slavery and racism, which engraved their
importance both in the history as well as in the memory of the citizens for a long. The musician’s
love for the music and the culture revealed that the African American will remain unified
(Rosenthal 2001). In this regard, it deserves mention that even when the chances of getting
caught were so high, the musicians and the activists continued staying united through music.
Throughout the whole civil right movement, a genre of music called ‘freedom songs’ became

6ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
popular enough. As the freedom songs served as the medium of unity or togetherness between
the white and black during the Civil Right Movement, they were used for the political purpose in
order to gain the national attention (Street, Hague and Savigny 2008).
Musicians
Most of the popular singers and musicians participated in the movement. Some of them
even played the leading role during the movement. Odette Holmes and Nina Simone are some of
the most prominent musicians to be named (Street, Hague and Savigny 2008). Odette Homes
was a famous musician as well as public figure during the civil right movement. Her songs
clearly showed that she was fans of like Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther king and so on. In her
music, Odette incorporated elements of music like jazz, folks, blues and spirituals into her music.
Her music inspired the other music peers like Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Joan Baez and so on
(Farmer 1985). Her song ‘Oh freedom’ wad mostly known to the nationals which was sung by
her in the year of 1963 in Washington.
The famous folk singer of the time was Joan Baez. She provided a complete different
dimension to the American Civil Rights Movement. She sang the one of the famous song which
had fueled the movement significantly (Farmer 1985). The song ‘Oh freedom’ depicted the real
image of the movement through its lyrics. The theme of the song was injustice and brutality that
matched with the time in a true way. Joan had sung the song on a morning before the speech of
Martin Luther King. The song is slow and while singing it, Joan strongly expressed her wish to
get the freedom, the equality (Whitehead 2008). Undoubtedly, the song inspired many citizens of
the country to come forward and realized how the then society was grossly affected by brutalism,
discrimination. The civilization went under depression as the American society affected by

7ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
discrimination. Many people realized about the social crisis after being the inspired by the song.
The song in other way assisted Joan significantly to become recognized singer. It also helped her
in moving towards the career of a folk singer (Lawson 1991). Her performance on that particular
day made her a well-known singer. Her performance engraved her name in the pages of history
of American Civil rights movements forever.
It was a historic period, when Civil Rights Movement was spread in the entire America.
From the celebrities to common people everyone came forward to join the movement in order to
eliminate discrimination and brutality from the society. Nonetheless, music became the voice of
the protest as the eminent musicians penned down noteworthy songs with string lyrics. In spite of
being jailed, punished, harassed, musicians never backed out from the movement (Lawson
1991). Rather they kept moving ahead with more courage. The courage to change the society, the
courage to eliminate ill-practices from the society and the courage the make the citizens united
were influenced by music during that time (Riches 2017). The musicians took the risk of
performing publicly knowing the fact that the state might punish them for that. It all happened
because the musicians did not move forward to fulfill their own interest but to fulfill the interest
of the nation send its people. Undoubtedly, during the time of the movement, the citizens were
traumatized by several reasons. Music served as the inspiration for the citizens to stay strong and
to overcome such trauma (Chong 2014).
Conclusion
Music and musicians undoubtedly played a crucial role in the Civil Right movement in
America. Many songs were written during the time, which have significance till today. The
movement followed non-violent way of protest. Thus most of the protesters did not opt for

8ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
weapons rather they had chosen the power of the music as the voice of the protest. Common
people along with musicians came forward to strengthen the protest. The essay included some
songs as well as some musicians that had a major influence on the movement. Music encouraged
the people to fight for their democracy creating a ray of hope for the African American who were
struggling during then for justice.
The civilization of the country was slowed down as discrimination engulfed the
American society. Many people were made aware about the social crisis after being the inspired
by the songs. The songs in other way helped the musicians to become recognized though the
musicians did not came forward to establish their name and fame, rather they were driven by the
spirit of nationalism. The main purpose of the easy is to discuss the role played by music during
the civil rights movements. It discussed how musicians came forward, how they were inspired to
penned down strong lyrics, how they inspired others to join in the movement and engraved their
names in the pages of history.
Some of the most eminent musicians and their works were mentioned in the discussion.
The Civil Right Movement was one the social justice movement that holds immense importance
in history. History reveals that music has been playing a crucial role whenever there is a social as
well as political crisis occurred. Thus the Civil Right Protest is no exception. Countless marches,
protests and rallies associated with music were nothing but served for the national interest. The
primary aim of the civil right movement was to put end to racism thus spreading peace. The
joining of the musicians in the movement unified the people during the movement in order to
keep their morale high.

9ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
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10ROLE OF MUSIC IN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
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