(click link to listen to song on YouTube; lyrics displayed on screen)
Who/what: “We Shall Overcome” is a song which originated from “I’ll
Overcome Someday” created by Reverend Charles Albert Tindley. It was one
of dozens of hymns he authored for the people of his church who were largely poor,
uneducated freed slaves new to the North. The song “We Shall Overcome” was published
by Pete Seeger (the director) and Ziphia Horton (additional music
director). The lyrics of the song are not violent nor defiant, but more a firm
belief or acknowledgement that change will come.
Where: Originating in a Philadelphia church, the song spread first
throughout the country, and then around the world. It first took hold as a
protest song in the South Carolina American Tobacco Co. when workers were
protesting wages. Later it could be heard in China, North Korea, Gaza, Norway,
Beirut, and many other locations.
When: Created in 1901 and published in 1947, it was most popular during
the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. It was performed and/or rewritten for numerous
protest movements throughout the years since then, and is used in current
active protest movements to this day (ex. Black Lives Matter).
Why (is it interesting/relevant): “We Shall Overcome” illustrates
the power of song to transcend time, race, religion, and spirituality, while
maintaining relevance as a powerful symbol of civil rights and equality. It has
united oppressed groups nationwide over generations in the belief that change not
only should come, but will come. The widespread use speaks to its efficacy, and
the lyrics themselves (“We shall overcome someday”) wisely hint that change is
an inevitable part of the passing of time; however, the lyrics may alternately
be interpreted that this desired change may not be in the near future, or even
within the lifespan of those who sing it. This rings true as the lyrics resurface
in the wave of a new movement, Black Lives Matter, nearly a century after its
advocates ancestors created it. This song was delivered in a solemn speech by
the first African American president of the United States roughly half a
century after an earlier president uttered the same words, promising change.
Works Cited:
Adams, Noah. “The Inspiring Force Of ‘We Shall Overcome” NPR. NPR, 28 Aug. 2013. Web. 02 Sept.
2016.
Graham, David
A. “The Surprising History of ‘We Shall Overcome’” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 9 May 2015. Web. 02 Sept.
2016.
Rolling Stone.
“’We Shall Overcome’: The Theme Song of Civil Rights.” Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2012. Web. 02 Sept. 2016
Claimed
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