Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed On Freedom) facts for kids
"Woke Up This Morning" is a special song about freedom. It was created in 1961 from an older gospel song called "I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus." This song became very important during the Civil Rights Movement, a time when people worked hard for equal rights. Reverend Robert Wesby wrote this song. He was from Aurora, Illinois. He sang it while he was in jail in Mississippi. He was there because he was part of the Freedom Riders, who were brave people fighting for fairness.
The Story Behind the Song
In June 1961, Reverend Robert Wesby, who lived from about 1927 to 1988, wrote "I Woke Up This Morning with My Mind Stayed On Freedom." He wrote it while he was in jail in Hinds County, Mississippi. He was there because he was a Freedom Rider. Freedom Riders were groups of people who rode buses into the southern United States to challenge unfair laws.
How the Song Spread
Later that year, 114 students sang this song. They sang it during the Burglund High School Walk Out. They marched to the city hall in McComb, Mississippi. The song quickly became famous. It was one of the most important songs of the Civil Rights Movement.
Music and the Movement
A famous folk singer named Pete Seeger mentioned the song in his 1989 book Everybody Says Freedom. This song is a type of folk music. Folk music was popular in the 1930s and 1940s. It became popular again in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement. Music and singing were a big part of the movement. Many songs were changed from older religious songs to fit the message of freedom and equality.
See also
- Civil rights movement in popular culture
