Empowering Anthems: How African-American Folk Music Fueled the Civil Rights Movement

Abstract

History 21: Homework Assignment #2 Essay 1 The songs are a clear indication that the African-Americans were determined to abandon their slavery life and enjoy freedom privileges that the white Americans were enjoying. Based on the reading, it is open that such folk music aimed at passing on a strong message against injustice and discrimination urging the people of color to act and move out of such enslaving life through embracing civil rights movements. “We shall overcome” by Baez was based on a religious hymn thus becoming central to the civil rights movement as well as sung at churches and in the south to communicate to both the whites and the people of color on the need to eradicate inequalities that the people were experiencing as human. The message in this son was so clear “we are not afraid today, oh, deep in my heart I believe we shall overcome.” Such a message aimed at motivating the people of color on the need to fight for their freedom as well as warning the whites that their manipulation time was coming to an end. On the other hand, the people get ready song, the author warned the whites telling them “there aint no room for the hopeless sinners who would hurt all mankind just to save his own…,” such a message also aimed at preparing the people of color for their freedom that of course would come at a cost. They had to be ready to fight for their freedom without fear of their manipulators. Religion played a significant role in these songs as people tend to believe in the powers of the powers of the super human being “God” especially when under undeserving situation. The Authors used religion as this proved significant when it came to gatherings among other things as their message aimed at communicating to a larger populace to ensure that it reached as many people as possible. In Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart song ‘We shall overcome’ the author claimed that “have pity on those whose chances are thinner because there is no hiding place from the kingdoms throne.” Such message coming from a religious context aimed at warning those hurting the people of color with injustices as well as telling the people of color that the time had come to end such injustices as even God would not advocate for such acts. The poetic and political nature of these folk songs inspired many activists to lead the enslaved population and deliver them from the hands of their enslavers. Essay 2 Based on these songs, the people of color had now embraced their worth and understood that just like the whites; they deserved freedom and good life. Just like in essay one; “We shall overcome” brought another phase in this era expressing a changed perspective of the people’s attitude in dealing with the stresses they were encountering. Just as its religious theme stated, the song gained momentum as time went by with the people of color training the whites to make them understand the need to value all humans regardless of color as the red blood spoke equality for all humans. Freedom songs during this era had become part...