Whats the influence of spirituals on the Civil Rights Movement?
It is not by mistake that the leaders of the Civil Rights Movements were generally ministers and people who led congregations. It was that deep faith that allowed them to be able to proceed with the Civil Rights Movements. Some of the great anthems that emerged, out of the Civil Rights Movement really came as a result from religious fruits, from the spirituals. “We Shall Overcome,” came out of the gospel tradition and simply was rewritten to be able to allow for African Americans, as well as others who were joining them in the struggle, to understand what it was that they were struggling against and that they would some day overcome the odds. And so many, African Americans as well as Caucasians and others were led off to jail as a result of the civil disobedience singing hymns and singing the songs of spirituality that simply gave them the courage to face what they were having to deal with. What were some of the risks for slaves in expressing themselves through spirituals? This is obvi
