Music of the Civil Rights Era - 1007 Words

The words â€Å"civil rights† trigger a sense in the human mind. One of remorse, passion, and hope in a cause worth fighting for. Those weathered by its raging storms refer to it as a turning point in American life after over a century under segregation that can only be described as a necessary silence that African Americans were forced to take on the matter. However, the human mind found itself a way to express those feelings that flowed from its veins. That expression of power and revolt was music. Music acted as the horses that pulled pearlescent chariots of liberty and freedom to the front doors of the White House through public protests, involvement of musical artists, and its impact on the lives and culture of those who were oppressed.†¦show more content†¦Bob Dylan was a significant artist and performer of songs of the â€Å"good times ahead† during the Civil Rights Movement. Bob Dylan wrote songs named â€Å"The Murder of Emmett Till† and â€Å" The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll† which both referred to specific events and murders of the time, while his songs The Times They Are A-Changin’ and Blowin’ in the Wind referred to the entire Civil Rights Movement as a whole (Edwards). He also was an active member of the protest community and would avidly participate in sit-ins and marches like the â€Å"March on Washington† which is where he gained most of his musical notoriety from the African American community of the time and this is where he help fuel the love of fans with his acoustic guitar and raspy vocal pieces (Edwards). Some say that Dylan was almost essential to the completion and victory of the Civil Rights Movement and others argue that without his songs of protest and remorse, the cause of civil rights would have been better off without him and may have ended sooner without the constant reminder of an end in the back of the government’s head (Ward). However, everyone can agree that music had an important part in the movement forward of the Civil Rights cause, whether or not the bias be in the direction of a negative connotation or a positive one. Music’s grace and power had a very important effect on the outcome of the Civil Rights movement. The papers read off words like, â€Å"They have overcome,† and â€Å"One man’s dream is anotherShow MoreRelatedEssay Music Influence on the Civil Rights Movement1037 Words   |  5 PagesS. History A. Worrall Mrs. Stepp 3rd Period 12/11/13 Question: How did music influence/effect the Civil Rights Movement? i. During the Civil Rights era, African Americans changed the way people looked at music by ending the segregation in the music world and by making a well-known â€Å"soundtrack† and influence during the Civil Rights Movement. ii. Topic Sentence: While music was an impact on the Civil Rights Movement, Motown Records is what gave Blacks the confidence to succeed in the onlyRead MoreThe Vietnam Era Essay1135 Words   |  5 Pages The Vietnam Era HUMN-303N: Introduction to Humanities Professor Stacey Donald DeVry University During the decades prior to the eighties the two most important issues the U.S. was facing were the war in Vietnam and civil rights. This era changed the way the public was able view the events, there was television and photography which allowed the world to see for the first time what war was about and journalism was not always unbiased. This era was an era of advancement, whereRead MoreThe Struggle For Equality And Rights During The Civil War1323 Words   |  6 Pageslead to the freedom of millions of African Americans who sought the same liberty and equality that was promised to everyone under the United States constitution. These liberties, of course, were not achieved right away. During the Reconstruction era, which is the decade right after the Civil War, many of the recently freed slaves did not have money, property, or credit. They could not buy the necessary things to enjoy their freedom, which lead to sharecropping, a glorified form of slavery. SharecroppingRead MoreIn the 1960s, People Turned to Music for Hope, Peace, and Happiness1215 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the 1960s and the early 1970s, music reflected the political and social changes that America was undergoing at the time. Some of these major changes included the African-American civil rights movement and the conflict over America’s role in the Vietnam War. During these hard times, people turned to music for hope, peace, happiness and answers. The African-American civil rights movement was a cruel time for the African American race to endure due to the harsh discrimination and segregationRead MoreSoul Music, Or Soul?1237 Words   |  5 Pages Soul music, or â€Å"Soul†,was adopted to describe African-American popular music as it evolved from the 1950s to the early 1970s. Although some people thought of â€Å"Soul† music as a new term for Rhythm and Blues, it was not. In fact, the â€Å"key ingredient in Soul music, and the element that defined it as a new style was the influence of gospel music.† (1)This style of music was a blend gospel music with the dance grooves of that era. However, Soul music during its heyday did more than simply entertain.Read MoreThe Harlem Renaissance And American History1217 Words   |  5 Pagesclass, we learned that the many forms of art could be a reflection of a persons emotions or a time period by using naturalism, idealism, or abstract themes. During the 1920â€℠¢s, an era known as the Harlem Renaissance defined black culture and changed entertainment around the world. The black community used art such as music, literature, and paintings to express social freedom. Artist such as Jacob Lawrence, Langston Hughes, and Duke Ellington used their art as a form of therapy and communication toRead MorePersuasive Essay : Life Is About Rhythm 1443 Words   |  6 Pagesmodern Western music, because of the incorporation of percussion into both academia and entertainment music. At first, percussion was introduced into Western Classical music as a means of getting exotic and unusual sounds for composers, and that trend continued all throughout the Romantic era, and even to the present. This surge in percussion instruments, especially the drum set, influenced the early forms of Jazz ushering in percussion into the entertainment/commercial music side of music. Drum set wasRead MoreWho Is Nina Simone?1444 Words   |  6 Pagesexperiences. What is so pote nt about pop culture however, is the ability of its participants to share their personal experiences to audiences than can both empathize and relate to the realities these artists present. This extended period of the civil rights and black power era can arguably be defined as the mobilization of the larger public by popular black figures whose individual charismas and drive inspired collective action. Some of these figures were exclusively political, many of which prominent intellectsRead MoreAfrican American Music Culture1490 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican American Music Culture Jakiella James â€Å"African-American gospel music is a major influence in nearly all genres of modern popular music, from rhythm ‘n blues to jazz, from soul to rock ‘n roll. The musical genre is a unique expression of the black experience in America? The emotionally-charged, wailing vocals and syncopated rhythms give the music a distinctive style. The singing is accompanied not only by instrumentals, but often also by hand-clapping, foot-stomping and shoutingRead MoreThe Success Of The 1980 S1648 Words   |  7 Pageskind of refreshed the US and created a more confident country. There were many people that were trying to find a voice for themselves and realizing that people have a voice and it should be used and heard. Not only were things evolving in the music and fashion industry, politics were taking a huge turn, for the better, and the general everyday life of living in this decade was different than any other decade thus far. All about the Eighties To understand the problems and success of the 1980’s