Cordell Reagon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cordell H. Reagon
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Cordell Hull Reagon |
| Born | February 22, 1943 |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee United States |
| Died | November 12, 1996 (aged 53) |
| Genres | A cappella |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, civil rights activist, political activist |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1962–1996 |
| Associated acts | The Freedom Singers |
Cordell Hull Reagon (born February 22, 1943 – died November 12, 1996) was an American singer and activist. He helped start The Freedom Singers. This group was part of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Cordell was also a leader in the Albany Movement. He was a Freedom Rider during the important Civil Rights Movement.
Early Life and Voice
Cordell Reagon was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He was named after Cordell Hull, a famous US Secretary of State. Cordell had a very powerful tenor voice. He used his singing to share the message of the Civil Rights Movement. His songs reached people across the United States and Canada in the 1960s.
Standing Up for Change
Cordell Reagon became a leader in the Civil Rights Movement when he was just 16 years old. This was in 1959 in Albany, Georgia. James Forman, a leader of SNCC, called him "the baby of the movement." Cordell taught hundreds of volunteers how to protest peacefully. These volunteers worked to help people register to vote. They also worked on other important civil rights projects.
In 1962, his friend Pete Seeger encouraged him. Cordell then started The Freedom Singers. This group had two men and two women. They sang gospel-style freedom songs. These songs helped people support the civil rights cause. The music shared the struggle for equal rights with many people. The singers were already part of church choirs and school groups. Their music gave a strong voice to the movement.
Cordell Reagon continued his activism later in life. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he worked against the Vietnam War. He also spoke out against nuclear weapons and environmental damage. He lived in New York City for many years. There, he worked as an organizer for different groups. In 1988, he moved to Berkeley, California. He started new environmental and justice groups there.
Cordell Reagon was an activist his whole life. He passed away in 1996 at age 53.
Family
Cordell Reagon was married twice. His first wife was Bernice Johnson Reagon. His second wife was Merble Harrington Reagon. Both marriages ended in divorce. One of his children is Toshi Reagon, who is also a singer. One of his sisters is Meryle Joy Reagon.
Images for kids
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Cordell Reagon's mug shot from Jackson, Mississippi.
