Post Two: Question Two

In chapter one of “The Art of Protest” by T.V. Reed, we are introduced to the concept of music’s involvement in the Civil Right’s Movement. In the opening remarks on the subject Reed says, “While many black cultural forms contributed to the civil rights movement, most participants and most analysts agree that music was the key force in shaping, spreading, and sustaining the movement’s culture and through culture its politics” (Reed 13). Also contained within Reed’s chapter is an introduction to the decentralized aspect of the civil rights movement in contrast to the “myth” of centralized efforts of the civil rights movement (Reed 12). This leads into the explanations of the effects of music in the civil rights movement. According to Reed, “no greater cultural force played a greater role at all levels of struggle than what became known as the “freedom songs’.” In essence, Reed argues that the sustaining and unifying abilities of music were critical to the organization of the movement into more cohesive groups that were potent in protest and ultimately in enacting change. “Singing proved to have wide appeal across class, regional, generational, gender, and other wide differences” (Reed 13).

            Music therefore is a cultural force that brings people together and unifies them in a political or ideological cause and thus an integral part to the civil rights movement. Within the civil rights movement, music was used in several ways. As mentioned before, the cohesive factor of music was integral to the movement. In other ways music helped bring out leaders in a group and encouraging others to join the crusade. Contained within the many “freedom songs” of the civil rights movement was the ideological and political message contained in the words of the song. This was of great importance in conveying to blacks and their communities the message and meaning of the movement and why they should take part. Reed goes further in explaining the importance of music by stating; “it was also the perfect tool for organizing communities that were for the most part deeply rooted in oral cultural tradition” (Reed13).

            Music readily conveys the aspects that Reed argues were vital in the civil rights movement. Music moves people as if it were itself alive. When meaning is conveyed alongside the compelling sounds of music, a much more effective delivery of that meaning is achieved. This is what happened with the use of music during the Civil Rights movement in the cases of sit-downs, boycotts, and jailing of protesters. In many ways this mode of communication can deliver the thoughts and ideas of any ideological movement. Many songs are sung in war as a way of motivating soldiers as they go off to battle. Songs such as John Browns Body, were sung by Union soldiers during the Civil War and conveyed the ideas they were fighting for and unity in achieving victory. Similarly, many songs were composed in the 1960s in protest of the war in Vietnam. Personally, I have come across many different uses of music. Growing up in a traditional Christian family, I have come to listen to a lot of music pertaining to the values, ideals, and messages of the composers, most of which held Judeo-Christian values like my family. Growing up, I found music, which gave me a sense of belonging. I tended to listen to groups that were listened especially by my friends as a sort of way of creating a community and a sense of commonality. Essential things when one needs to be organize and mobilize people toward a goal such as the civil rights movement. At other times I have found the lyrics of other musical acts, such as Anti-flag, a band that attacks the politics of America and believes that capitalism is evil, of insight and potency in conveying ideas to its listeners. At the end of the day, music is the means to an end, according to the appropriator.