The Music of Civil Rights, from Strange Fruit to The Roots

Music has always been central to the African American quest for freedom. The Civil Rights struggle and its music provided some of America’s most powerful calls of hope, moral clarity, and equity.

During the 19th century, spirituals such as Steal Away carried coded protest. In the 20th century, protest became explicit. In the 1930s Ethel Waters sang an anti-lynching song that shocked Broadway and Billie Holiday bravely recorded the stinging song Strange Fruit. Duke Ellington’s long career spoke for racial respect and civil rights in such pieces as Black Beauty and [Martin Luther] King Fit the Battle of Alabam’.

As political action picked up and in the 1950s and 1960s, We Shall Overcome became the clarion anthem of the Civil Rights movement and central to America’s moral quest for “a more perfect Union.” Old songs like This Little Light of Mine took on new meaning and fresh songs appeared such as If You Miss Me from the Back of the Bus. Black and white activists alike sang Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind. And great artists—such as Sam Cooke (A Change is Gonna Come), The Impressions (People Get Ready), James Brown (Say It Loud), Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, on up to The Roots—all sang to advance respect and equality.

Dr. John Edward Hasse, long-time music curator at the Smithsonian and Duke Ellington’s biographer, plays stirring video clips of these songs that inspired, motivated, and advocated for what Martin Luther King called for in his “I have a dream” speech: that we all be judged not by the color of our skin, “but by the content of our character.” He also plays works by W.C. Handy and Duke Ellington that helped lay the musical foundation for the Civil Rights movement.

Dr. John Edward Hasse
One of America’s foremost music historian-educators, Dr. John Edward Hasse helps audiences understand the power of music to move and inspire us to greater heights.

Links to music, Hasse is referring too:

Duke Ellington – Black Beauty
   • Duke Ellington - Black Beauty  

Billie Holiday – Strange Fruits
   • Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit" Live...  

I have a dream – Martin Luther King – August 1963
   • I Have a Dream speech by Martin Luthe...  

“Go Tell It On the Mountain/ Let My People Go” Fannie Lou Hamer – Greenwood, Mississippi- 1963
   • Inspiring Fannie Lou Hamer Mashup WIT...  

This Little Light of Mine
   • This Little Light Of Mine (Voice)  

Keep Your Eye on the Prize
   • Sweet Honey In The Rock - Eye On The ...  

We Shall Overcome
   • Joan Baez performs "We Shall Overcome...  

People Get Ready, Curtis Mayfield
   • Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions - P...  

Nina Simone, I Wish I Knew
   • Nina Simone - I Wish I Knew (How It W...  

Mississippi Goddam, 1964
   • Nina Simone: Mississippi Goddam  

An artist’s duty – Nina Simone
   • Nina Simone: An Artist's Duty  

Bob Dylan, Blowin’ in the Wind
   • Bob Dylan - (Blowin' In The Wind) - "...  

Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come
   • Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come (O...  

Eddie Harris, Freedom Jazz Dance
   • Eddie Harris - Listen Here/Freedom Ja...  

Duke Ellington – King Fit the Battle of Alabam’
   • King Fit De Battle of Alabam  

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler), 1971
   • Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Make ...  

Isley Brothers, Freedom, 1970
   • Freedom from the Isley Brothers  

Black pride: James Brown, 1968
   • Say it Loud- I'm Black and Proud Jame...  

Bon Jovi, American Reckoning
   • Bon Jovi - American Reckoning (Lyric ...  

I can’t breathe – Deitrick Haddon
   • Deitrick Haddon - I Can't Breathe (MU...  

The Roots, Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around
   • The Roots "Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn...  

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