Venceremos: la música del movimiento por los derechos civiles

There is perhaps no event in American history more closely tied to music than the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's.  In this course, students will explore major themes and events of the movement through the iconic music of the era.  Together we will analyze lyrics, instrumentation, tone, and theme to uncover the motives of each artist and the context each song was written in.  

The class will begin with a discussion of the role spirituals and religious music played in the movement.  We'll investigate the history of African-American church songs and their role in promoting aspirations of freedom and equality.  Students will listen to the classic song "We Shall Overcome" and discuss how this song connects to the ideas discussed in what they learned.

We will then turn our focus to the folk music revival of New York City and the ways in which many white Northerners reacted to the struggles of African-Americans in the South.  Together we will hear the story of James Meredith, the first African-American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi.  We will then listen to "Oxford Town" by Bob Dylan, in which Dylan responds to the violence Meredith faced upon his attempt to enroll at the university.

Finally we will move into a discussion of early rock n' roll and how its rebellious nature connected with supporters of the Civil Rights Movement.  We will listed to "Freedom Highway" by The Staple Singers and discuss how this song reflected the urgency of the movement and exposed larger audiences to the struggles of African-Americans.  

The class will end with students reflecting on how music was a motivating force during the Civil Rights Movement.

This course will make heavy use of music and is designed to be fun and interactive!  Throughout the way I will engage with students and lead group discussions.  I encourage questions from students at all times.  No prior knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement or the artists discussed is required.