Civil Rights and Music

According to “A Movement’s Soul,” why did the leaders of the civil rights movement choose to use music as part of the cause?

• It drew on cultural tradition in African American communities.

• It was a universal language that everyone could understand.

• It protected the movement by proving that it was peaceful.

• It had never been tried before in any other movement.

According to “A Movement’s Soul,” what themes were common in the songs from the civil rights movement? Choose two options.

• threatening enemies

• achieving freedom

• keeping the peace

• winning elections

• gaining equality

According to “A Movement’s Soul,” how did music affect the civil rights movement? Choose two options.

• It motivated organizers.

• It honored the movement’s leaders.

• It reaffirmed the movement’s goals.

• It made meetings lighthearted and inviting.

• It helped outsiders understand the movement’s purpose.

Part A: According to “A Movement’s Soul,” what is one significant effect singing had on protesters? Part B: Which quotation from “A Movement’s Soul” best supports the answer to Part A?

• Singing together made protesters feel strong, even when they were arrested and jailed for civil disobedience.

• At the end of meetings, everyone would rise, join hands, and sing the anthem.

• As the lyrics predicted, Black and white crowd members joined hands.

• Moved by music’s message, this large political rally that took place at the nation’s capital began with a massive concert featuring both Black and white musicians.

While leading a Girl Scout troop, Mary Jackson and the girls sang " Pick a Bale of Cotton." What upset Mary about the song?

• The song did made slavery sound much worse than Mary thought it was.

• The song lyrics included curse words.

• The song reinforced all the worst stereotypes about what it meant to be black.

• Mary did not like the writer of the song.

What is the main idea of “A Movement’s Soul”?

• The music used in the civil rights movement is still fondly remembered today.

• The music used in the civil rights movement has evolved and been used for other causes.

• The music used in the civil rights movement helped organizers pass major laws that changed the country.

• The music used in the civil rights movement brought together and motivated people for a common cause.

Part A: What is the main idea of “A Movement’s Soul”? Part B: Which quotation from “A Movement’s Soul” most clearly supports the answer to Part A?

• Put simply, music united citizens from all walks of life in a new vision for the future.

• The song, changed slightly to “We Will Overcome,” was taught to labor organizers in the 1940s at the Highlander Folk School.

• Today, “We Shall Overcome” has spread around the world and can be heard wherever freedom and justice are threatened.

• Songs and singing proved essential nonviolent weapons in the struggle for freedom.

According to “A Movement’s Soul,” what describes most of the songs used for the movement?

• popular radio songs updated for the movement

• traditional African American spirituals updated for the movement

• completely new songs written in the style of African American spirituals

• new songs from new artists who sprang from the movement and became popular

Part A: According to “A Movement’s Soul,” what is one significant effect singing had on protesters?

• It helped them act cautiously in the face of danger.

• It gave them courage even when they faced backlash.

• It reminded them to be kind even when they felt angry.

• It kept them from saying things that would get them in trouble.

According to “A Movement’s Soul,” what themes were common in the songs from the civil rights movement? Choose two options.

• threatening enemies

• achieving freedom

• keeping the peace

• winning elections

• gaining equality