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...
Billie Holiday - Strange Fruits
• Billie Holiday - "Stra...
I have a dream - Martin Luther King - August 1963
• I Have a Dream speech ...
“Go Tell It On the Mountain/ Let My People Go” Fannie Lou Hamer - Greenwood, Mississippi- 1963
• Inspiring Fannie Lou H...
This Little Light of Mine
• This Little Light Of M...
Keep Your Eye on the Prize
• Sweet Honey In The Roc...
We Shall Overcome
• Joan Baez performs "We...
People Get Ready, Curtis Mayfield
• Curtis Mayfield & The ...
Nina Simone, I Wish I Knew
• Nina Simone - I Wish I...
Mississippi Goddam, 1964
• Nina Simone: Mississip...
An artist’s duty - Nina Simone
• Nina Simone: An Artist...
Bob Dylan, Blowin’ in the Wind
• Bob Dylan - (Blowin' I...
Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come
• Sam Cooke - A Change I...
Eddie Harris, Freedom Jazz Dance
• Eddie Harris - Listen ...
Duke Ellington - King Fit the Battle of Alabam’
• King Fit De Battle of ...
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler), 1971
• Marvin Gaye - Inner Ci...
Isley Brothers, Freedom, 1970
• Freedom from the Isley...
Black pride: James Brown, 1968
• Say it Loud- I'm Black...
Bon Jovi, American Reckoning
• Bon Jovi - American Re...
I can’t breathe - Deitrick Haddon
• Deitrick Haddon - I Ca...
The Roots, Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around
• The Roots "Aint Gonna ...
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