Sing for Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through its Songs

by Guy Carawan (Contributor)

softcover

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, School

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of songs and their importance in the Civil Rights Movement. These songs connect people across decades and through shared pain, perseverence, spirituality, hope, despair, fatigue, and strength. The historical notes make this an important read for all Americans.

[David Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings under one set of covers two volumes of songs from the Civil Rights movement with accompanying commentary. The value in this book is historical. Covering the approximate period 1958-1968, the book provides the reader direct access to an important part of this historically important political movement. These songs worked as a form of social bonding and psychological healing essential to keep the movement going despite the horrific violence set upon it. Perhaps more important for the historical record, though, are the commentary accompaniments to the printed songs. The commentary comes from various eyewitness accounts, some written especially for these books and others drawn from various sources, such as the historian Howard Zinn. These accounts give a reader some insight into what life was like inside the movement. These are not abstract generalizations; they are direct personal accounts of the hardships and triumphs. It is a perspective that the many documentaries and history book accounts just do not provide, and for that alone, this book is well worth the reader's time.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2013 and 2014 we have been celebrating many 50 year anniversaries of historic moments from the Civil Rights Movement. One thing you will notice if when you watch documentaries about the Civil Rights Movement (YDL has many distributed by California Newsreel) is the important role of protest music, much of it grounded in the tradition of church music and folk music. Sing for Freedom is an incredible resource for anyone wanting to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement and the music that went with it. Many of the songs of the Civil Rights Movement are documented in this book as sheet music with additional verses, stories of the origins of the songs, events surrounding the songs, and incredible photographs interspersed. Sing for Freedom is a combination of two previously released protest music songbooks, We Shall Overcome and Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Sing Out Magazine. Sing for Freedom is an incredible resource if you want to learn about the Civil Rights Movement and its powerful music. Also worth checking out is the companion CD, which we also have at YDL!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book on my 20th Century American Lit list. The songs resonate of the Civil Rights Movement. They provide insight into the power of song. I appreciated some of the songs that were written to familiar tunes.

[Ethan Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poignant chronicle of the Black Civil Rights Movement through its songs.

[Paul Dwigans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with beautiful songs.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this book about what was going on at the time that SNCC was active in the South, and also developed a deeper appreciation of the role of music in the movement and of the richness of the musical repertoire of SNCC and the Black South. It really needs a companion CD, because if you don't play piano or some other instrument, it is difficult to find many of these songs. Very few of them are ion YouTube.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great work of writing down the civil rights song with music and adding the background information. I found out a little about interstate segregation, which I got my father's confirmation about how it worked. In essence, a great piece of music and literature about an era of the fight to end segregation through a new method of retaliation: non-violence.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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