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World War II to the Civil Rights Movement

Overview

By the end of World War II, the character of North American society had greatly changed. The country experienced new levels of economic prosperity and women were voicing their opinions on gender roles, resulting from their newfound skills and work experiences during the war. At the same time, race relations began to deteriorate. In the 1950s and through the grassroots activities that led to the modern civil rights movement, the nation, and the world became exposed to racial inequalities such as fair job pay, fair housing, and voter registration, to name a few, that adversely affected African Americans and hindered their artistic expression. As is often the case, artists regularly express their opinion about such social, cultural, and political disparities. Moreover, African Americans continued to use songs, in this case, , as a powerful medium to inform, educate, and offer a call to action against social injustice. In general, freedom songs are those lyrics that reflect African Americans' perseverance towards "acquiring" their desired goals whereas protest songs identify these goals, for example, equality, fair pay for work, fair housing, non-discriminatory voter registration, and social justice.

Be ready to:

Identify notable events that led to the signing of the Civil Rights Act on July 2, 1964.

Identify song titles and event-related songs and understand the processes by which their lyrics change to fit the occasion.

Identify the processes involved in singing in a congregational or group setting.

Understand the origin of freedom songs and identify the names of people who influenced the development of these songs.

Understand the history of the song "We Shall Overcome" - noted as one of the most significant freedom songs.

Identify and discuss the difference between freedom and protest songs.

Identify specific titles and noted performers of protest songs.

Understand that a protest song can also be expressed instrumentally.

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References

Spirituals, Hymns, and Anthems 5

Portrait of composers and producers Bob Cole, James Weldon Johnson, and J. Rosamond Johnson

While "We Shall Overcome" is regarded as the civil rights anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing,"♫ is also considered in the same category. It is held more so as the African American, or more commonly, Black National Anthem.

'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' often called 'the Black National Anthem,' was a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) and then set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954) in 1899. It was first performed in public in the Johnsons' hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, as part of a celebration of Lincoln's Birthday on February 12, 1900, by a choir of 500 schoolchildren at the segregated Stanton School, where James Weldon Johnson was principal

(NAACP, n.d)

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" was, and still is, sung at gatherings where issues about African Americans are concerned be it meetings during the 1950s and 60s, and later on, marches, sit-ins, Black History Month events, or graduation ceremonies at universities that highlight African American graduates. The song's lyrics about overcoming oppression, perseverance or resolve, and faith in God are as relevant today as they were during the civil rights movement. Above is a recording of a version typical for group singing, without too much ornamentation.

Lift Every Voice and Sing with Lyrics [ 00:00-00:00 ]

Stemming from the spiritual "Over My Head," "Over My Head I See Trouble in the Air"♫ is another song that was popular during the civil rights movement. There have been several lyrical revisions of this song's title, such as "Freedom in the Air" and "Up Above My Head," or versions that change a single word such as "Over My Head I See ______ in the Air" where the blank can be filled in by the word "trouble," "music," "singing," or "freedom." In 1961, Bernice Johnson Reagon participated in a march in Albany, Georgia, and sang this song. As she started, rather than singing "Over My Head I See Trouble in the Air," she sang, "Over My Head I See Freedom in the Air." As previously mentioned, it was quite customary to create new lyrics or slightly change them to better suit the occasion. Listen to her recording in the video of "Freedom in the Air" (same melody as "Over My Head I See Trouble in the Air"), and take note of these slight lyrical changes:

Freedom in the Air

Give Your Hands to Struggle

Bernice Johnson Reagon

Lyrics

Over My Head I See Freedom
See Glory
Hear Singing in the Air

The song "Oh Freedom" is regarded as the most widely sung during the Antebellum period, as this was the time when slaves felt that freedom was drawing near. Much like African Americans felt twenty years or so before the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, their primary goal was the eradication of inequality and civil and social injustices. Although "Oh Freedom,"♫ like many spirituals, speaks about freedom with a religious connotation, the notion of "free" is relevant to the pursuit of sovereignty in any circumstance past, present, or future.

We Shall Not Be Moved

Oh I, shall not
I shall not be moved I shall not
I shall not be moved
Just like a tree planted by the water
I shall not be moved

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.