american protest music

The 50s and 60s were a time of a nation torn by conflicts: the war in Vietnam and a racial war raging sometimes in the streets. Music played a large role in both of these conflicts. The musical expression of this era allowed an individual voice to speak out, often on issues that challenged the status quo. For people of all colors committed to racial justice, the 60s were a time of hope. They said you could hear it in the music: in the freedom songs that dominated marches throughout the south. Martin Luther King Jr. dubbed music the “soul of the movement.” The songs brought strength and courage, gathered supporters, disseminated information, and ultimately transformed a burden into a movement.
Protest music was intricately intertwined with the civil rights movement. The political songs during the folk revival in the early 60s attracted many people to the movement. Many also believe that protest music owes much to the freedom movement. The folkies spoke of more than just current p...