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.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

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.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.1

CCSS.RI.7.1

CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RL.7.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

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.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

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

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.7

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

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2