Music of Civil Rights
Song Book - Anti-Fascist Songs of the Almanac Singers, published by the Almanac Singers.
Courtesy of American Song Archives, Woody Guthrie Center Tulsa, Ron Cohen Collection.
https://woodyguthriecenter.org/archives/collection/ronald-d-cohen-folk-music-research-collection/
Flier - "Let's Win the War Quickly" warning against tactics of the KKK fifth columnists and encouraging voting for unity and labor.
Courtesy of American Song Archives, Woody Guthrie Center Tulsa, Ron Cohen Collection.
https://woodyguthriecenter.org/archives/collection/ronald-d-cohen-folk-music-research-collection/
Flier - "A Detroit Pact to Shorten the War," petition to call a Grand Jury to investigate fifth column activity in Detroit, warning about the group's activity in instigating race riots in the city.
Courtesy of American Song Archives, Woody Guthrie Center Tulsa, Ron Cohen Collection.
https://woodyguthriecenter.org/archives/collection/ronald-d-cohen-folk-music-research-collection/
Song Book - Songs of Freedom, Highlander Folk School, March 1961.
Courtesy of American Song Archives, Woody Guthrie Center Tulsa, Ron Cohen Collection.
https://woodyguthriecenter.org/archives/collection/ronald-d-cohen-folk-music-research-collection/
Song Book Lift Ev'ry Voice: NAACP Song Book, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, 1972.
Courtesy of American Song Archives, Woody Guthrie Center Tulsa, Ron Cohen Collection.
https://woodyguthriecenter.org/archives/collection/ronald-d-cohen-folk-music-research-collection/
Song Book - We Shall Overcome, Songs of the Southern Freedom Movement, Guy and Candie Carawan, 1963.
Courtesy of American Song Archives, Woody Guthrie Center Tulsa, Ron Cohen Collection.
https://woodyguthriecenter.org/archives/collection/ronald-d-cohen-folk-music-research-collection/
Sheet Music - "We Shall Overcome: New Words and Adaptation by Zilphia Horton, Frank Hamilton, Guy Carawan & Pete Seeger. The Richmond Organization.
Courtesy of American Song Archives, Woody Guthrie Center Tulsa, Ron Cohen Collection.
https://woodyguthriecenter.org/archives/collection/ronald-d-cohen-folk-music-research-collection/
Folk, blues, and gospel musicians created an inspiring soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement. By lifting up a message in a collective voice and harmonizing with those around them, activists energized the public and encouraged support of their causes. Songs of hope, power, and freedom were often sung in unison by peaceful protestors, reflecting a shared vision of racial equity. These unifying songs implored citizens and legislators to make changes in implicit and systemic racism in our society.
The songbooks featured on this page and the select songs included are a small sample of the music that led the way to change.
Video interview with Bob Santelli, founding executive director of the GRAMMY Museum, about the Obama White House presentation of "Music of the Civil Rights Movement."
Program - From the Obama White House Music Series "A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement," February 2010.
Courtesy of Bob Santelli.