{"id":4203,"date":"2019-10-09T21:18:26","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T02:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/?p=4203"},"modified":"2019-12-10T18:02:36","modified_gmt":"2019-12-11T00:02:36","slug":"hymns-the-anthem-of-the-civil-rights-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/2019\/10\/09\/hymns-the-anthem-of-the-civil-rights-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"Hymns: The Anthem of the Civil Rights Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"584\" height=\"329\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-hQeGDSB6Ss?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>During the Civil Rights Movement, hymns were used by protestors, white and black alike, as a unifying, peaceful statement. Time and time again, protestors chose to arm themselves with hymns, which is evident in write-ups like the ones below from the Chicago Defender.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.08-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4206 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.08-PM-300x168.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.08-PM-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.08-PM-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.08-PM-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.08-PM-500x280.png 500w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.08-PM.png 1004w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.54-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4205 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.54-PM-300x233.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.54-PM-300x233.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.54-PM-150x116.png 150w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.54-PM-768x596.png 768w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.54-PM-1024x795.png 1024w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.54-PM-387x300.png 387w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.28.54-PM.png 1642w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.29.39-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4204\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.29.39-PM-293x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"293\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.29.39-PM-293x300.png 293w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.29.39-PM-147x150.png 147w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.29.39-PM-768x785.png 768w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.29.39-PM-1002x1024.png 1002w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-9.29.39-PM.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>These peaceful protests appear to have been so prevalent in the mid-1960\u2019s that they were given their own nickname\u2014 \u201chymn-singing meetings.\u201d I found myself asking the question, <strong><em>\u201cWhy hymns?\u201d How did a whole genre of music rise to unify the movement? Why not African American spirituals, or another genre?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An argument could be made that the protestors chose to sing hymns because of their religious significance. The Civil Rights movement, was, after all, based upon largely Biblical ideas (such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Mark+12:31&amp;version=NIV\">loving your neighbor as yourself<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Romans+8:18&amp;version=NIV\">suffering on earth for an eternal reward<\/a>). The protestors could relate to Jesus who was being sung of in the hymns, such as <em>Jesus Paid It All<\/em>. He was the minority in a violent government, and He suffered and died a criminal\u2019s death, even though He was innocent. Jesus\u2019 life was a parallel to what many black people were experiencing in the 1960s. They were innocent people suffering and dying in criminal ways. The following excerpt comes from an account of a white man who went into prison to stand in solidarity with innocent black men who were imprisoned.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-10.11.13-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4207 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-10.11.13-PM-261x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"261\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-10.11.13-PM-261x300.png 261w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-10.11.13-PM-130x150.png 130w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2019\/10\/Screen-Shot-2019-10-08-at-10.11.13-PM.png 718w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 261px) 100vw, 261px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hymns also provided a sense of hope for the protestors. Songs like <em><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/track\/7kz0aMyP0GP9o2dAaRvoSM?si=Mr-5GvKxTUChggx7UbWLoQ\">Keep Your Eyes on the Prize<\/a> <\/em>and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/track\/4Tf9wm1MyckSMaUoDjCk7t?si=HBYZQyFjQ8WYFKQo6pwabg\">We Shall Overcome<\/a> <\/em>demonstrated that they were fighting for a cause larger than themselves, and that they can remain hopeful through the struggles of the present.<\/p>\n<p>While religious motivations and hopeful outlooks played a role in hymn-singing, I don\u2019t believe these were the only reasons hymns became the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights movement. I believe protestors chose to sing hymns because both white and black people found a home-like comfort in singing them side-by-side with fellow protestors. Both groups of people found identity within these tunes. Hymns have roots in aspects of both \u201cwhite\u201d and \u201cblack\u201d culture. Even though these two groups brought very different experiences to the protests, both found a feeling of familiarity from singing these tunes. Amidst the tumultuous times they were living in, hymns unified the individuals&#8217; struggle into a powerful whole.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> &#8220;Protest Ariz. Bias.&#8221; 1963.<em>Chicago Daily Defender (Daily Edition) (1960-1973)<\/em>, Jul 30, 6. https:\/\/search.proquest.com\/docview\/493976140?accountid=351.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> &#8220;N. C. Students Protest Bias on Capitol Steps.&#8221; 1960.<em>Daily Defender (Daily Edition) (1956-1960)<\/em>, Mar 15, 3. https:\/\/search.proquest.com\/docview\/493748886?accountid=351.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> &#8220;Arrest 52 of 400 Hymn-Singing Sit-Ins Protesting Mich. Bias.&#8221; 1963.<em>Chicago Daily Defender (Daily Edition) (1960-1973)<\/em>, Sep 19, 8. https:\/\/search.proquest.com\/docview\/493990005?accountid=351.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\">[4]<\/a> \u201cCongress of Racial Equality (CORE) 1960-69.\u201d\u00a0<em>Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) 1960-69<\/em>, n.d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During the Civil Rights Movement, hymns were used by protestors, white and black alike, as a unifying, peaceful statement. Time and time again, protestors chose to arm themselves with hymns, which is evident in write-ups like the ones below from &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/2019\/10\/09\/hymns-the-anthem-of-the-civil-rights-movement\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3316,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jEhR-15N","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3316"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4203"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4203\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4842,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4203\/revisions\/4842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}