Freedom songs facts for kids
Freedom songs were special songs sung by people who were part of the Civil Rights Movement. These songs are sometimes called "civil rights anthems." If they sounded more like church songs, they were called "civil rights hymns."
These songs were a very important part of life during the Civil Rights Movement. They held many meanings for everyone involved. Songs could show feelings like sadness, happiness, joy, or strong determination. Freedom songs helped bring the Black community together during the movement. They also helped people communicate when words alone weren't enough.
The song "We Shall Overcome" quickly became the unofficial anthem of the movement. Guy Carawan taught this popular song in the spring of 1960. He held a workshop at the Highlander Folk School. This made the song very popular among activists.
Music from the civil rights era was key to the movement's success. It helped share deep feelings and the wish for big changes across the country. Music made the movement stronger. It added different ways to push for freedom. The songs worked well because they were direct and repeated their message clearly. Their tunes were simple with easy-to-remember choruses. This made it easy for both Black and white people to join in. It helped spread their message even further.
People often sang more than they talked during protests. This shows how powerful the songs truly were. It was important to support those who joined the movement. Songs helped do this. People felt connected to each other through the songs. They also felt a strong connection to the movement itself. Politically, freedom songs were sung to get the nation's attention. They aimed to make the country deal with the serious problem of racial segregation in the United States.
How Freedom Songs Were Created
Many freedom songs had a Christian background. They were often based on hymns, which are church songs. The words of these hymns were slightly changed. This allowed them to fit into civil rights protests. They reflected current situations when sung outside churches, especially in the streets.
While most freedom songs came from hymns, some came from other music styles. For people who were not very religious, rock and roll songs were changed. They became freedom songs. This allowed many more activists to join in the singing.
Some famous freedom songs started as gospel songs or spirituals. These include "We Shall Overcome" and "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize". Other examples are "This Little Light of Mine" and "Go Tell it on the Mountain".
Artists and Activists Who Sang Freedom Songs
Nina Simone was a professional artist who wrote or sang freedom songs. One of her famous songs is "To Be Young, Gifted and Black". This song is from her album Black Gold (1970).
Activist Fannie Lou Hamer was known for singing songs at marches and protests. She often sang "This Little Light of Mine." Zilphia Horton also helped change spirituals into civil rights songs.
Well-Known Freedom Songs
About 100 songs were commonly sung during the Civil Rights Movement protests in the 1960s. Here are some of the most famous or important ones:
- "A Change Is Gonna Come (song)": Written and sung by Sam Cooke.
- "Oh, Freedom": An old spiritual song from the time of slavery.
- "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round"
- "Certainly Lord": Based on a spiritual.
- ""Hold On"": Also known as "Keep Your Eye On The Prize," based on a spiritual.
- "How I Got Over"
- "I Love Everybody": This song was very important to some leaders of the movement. It was sometimes sung for an hour straight.
- "If You Miss Me at the Back of the Bus": Adapted from a song by Chico Neblett.
- "I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table": Adapted from a spiritual.
- "I Woke Up This Mornin'": Adapted from a spiritual.
- "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing": Written by James Weldon Johnson.
- "This Little Light of Mine": Originally a spiritual, often sung by Fannie Lou Hamer.
- "We Shall Not Be Moved": Likely started as a labor union song.
- "If I had a hammer": A labor union song by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays.
- "Hymn to Freedom": Written and performed by Oscar Peterson.
