Sam Cooke had a big decision. Did he want to risk writing a song about civil rights as the movement was just starting to calm down? Yes, he did. He knew what could happen. He knew that his record company might drop him. He knew he could lose his job. He knew bad things might happen to his family. He wrote the song “A Change is Gonna Come” which is about the promise of change in the united states from a very segregated country to an integrated one and it inspired millions.
Bob Dylan was a very famous man, and during the civil rights movement his songs became even more famous. The song “Emmett Till” was the first of the civil rights songs he wrote. Soon after that came “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a Changin’.” His girlfriend Suze Rotolo had very strong opinions on civil rights and was Bob Dylan's main advocate to protest through song. Because of Rotolo’s great encouragement and Dylan’s skilled song writing “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a Changin’” became unofficial anthems in the civil rights movement.
Sweet Honey in the Rock was an african, rap, and blues group. They Identified as African Americans, Feminists, Fans, gay men, black cultural nationalists, civil rights activists, lesbians, whites, and women’s activists. They wrote a number of songs for the civil rights movement, but in of their biggest hits was “Eyes on the Prize.” This song was one most famous song during the civil rights movement. “Eyes on the Prize” was played in schools, Churches, at protests, and more. It even had a PBS video named after it called “Eyes on the Prize, America’s Civil Rights Years.”
“And before I’ll be a slave, I’ll be buried in my grave. And go home to my lord and be free” These words empowered African Americans during slavery, the Civil War, and The Civil Rights Movement. The song was one sang at plantations, but was also a favorite spiritual. It was even featured in “Gospel” the musical. Along with “Eyes on the prize” and “a change is gonna come” this was among the most popular Civil Rights songs.
Singers from around the world were impacted by the tension in the states. A great example of this is the song “Black Bird” by The Beatles. The civil rights connects everyone in more ways than just integration. These Civil rights anthems had everyone singing. It’s funny how sometimes the seemingly insignificant things have impacted us in surprisingly significant ways.
“Harder Than you Think” and “Say it Like it Is” by Public Enemy are two current songs about discrimination against blacks. “Harder than you think” explains that things are difficult when a quiet war is being waged and the police force isn’t helping. “Say it like it is” briefly talks about harsh stereotypes placed on blacks and focuses on the subtle discrimination. “Harder than you Think” was featured in Selma. The two raps when analyzed are actually sad songs with real truths.