a History of "We Shall Overcome"

We Shall Overcome became the anthem for the Civil Rights Movement, thanks in part to the movement leaders, and thanks in part to artists and folk signers like Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. But the roots of the song go way back to the Civil War and slavery.

Maybe the most poignant thing about the evolution of We Shall Overcome is that there’s been a NEED for it to evolve. From the beginning, black music has always been about acknowledging oppression while hoping for a better future. That’s a paradox. That’s why the clip of Fountain Hughes is so inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time.

So the next time you hear this song, and I hope we don’t need any more versions of it, just know that it’s invoking the memory and traditions of some of America’s greatest fighters. People like Pete Seeger, Mahalia Jackson, Charles Tindley, Fountain Hughes, Union Soldiers, and perhaps even the first generations of born African American slaves. It’s powerful stuff. But it’s music, and music is powerful.