Glory: Iconic Songs of the Struggle

Music can often evoke emotion like nothing else can. In times of happiness it compliments how we feel as well as soothing freshly opened wounds while we are hurting. Last night, Common and John Legend’s “Glory” won the Oscar for Best Original Song from the film Selma. “Glory” was a reminder that while the march on Selma was 50 years ago, we still have a ways to progress. There have been many songs over the years that we as a people and culture have used to make us feel like we can overcome the obstacles placed in our way. While there are many, here is a list of 10 best songs that have been the soundtrack to the civil rights movement.

 10 Iconic Soundtracks of the Civil Rights Movement

Mavis Staples, We Shall Not Be Moved

Famously known for singing “I’ll Take You There,” which could have easily been placed on this list. “We Shall Not Be Moved” is a spiritual song often sung that gave the simile of being like a tree that’s planted by the water, so deeply rooted that even if one were to cut it down it would grow right back. It was reminiscent of the sit-in protests because all people wanted to do was eat in the same places their white counterparts did.

Common and John Legend, Glory

Part negro spiritual, yet all hip hop, “Glory” is a big moment. It’s a bridge between Rosa sitting on the bus and those protesting in Ferguson, MO with their hands up. While the March on Selma may have happened 50years ago, “Selma is now” because the work for civil rights is far from finished. Last night, hip hop went 3-for-3 in the Best Song Category which demonstrates that its impact on culture cannot be denied.

Public Enemy, Fight the Power

“1989!” Public Enemy became a voice during a desolate time in inner cities across America. The crack epidemic was tearing families apart, white flight lead to ghettoization of the cities, and places like New York looked like bombed out countries (You newbies really have no idea what NY looked like no matter how many stories you’ve been told). At the tail end of a hectic decade, Reganomics on their way to a third time via George H. W. Bush, and AIDS as well; Public Enemy made an anthem that sounds like bombastic revolution.

I never understood the dancing militants, though.

Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come

Sam Cooke’s last song was his best song. Cooke sang the song differently than almost anything else we’d ever heard from him. There was a pain in his voice that was a departure from crooning about “Don’t know much about history.” The anguish of being separate and unequal. It felt as if he knew that he wouldn’t be alive to witness the change that would come.

The Impressions, People Get Ready

While most songs about civil rights seemed to have been rooted in protest and some sense of restlessness, Curtis Mayfield sang about hope. I think that’s what makes this one of the best songs. Allegorically alluding to the train to Jordan as the promised land also gave a nod to negro spirituals. In the end, it says that the way to prepare for what’s coming is to just be thankful and everything will fall into place according to God’s perfect plan. Perfect.

Gil Scott Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

While not an emcee, it’s safe to say that Gil Scott Heron was one of the first rappers. The poem was a unique way of stating that when “the revolution” comes, it will not be pretty. It will not have the gloss that we often associate with what was seen on television at the time. Also, it was stating that people will be in the streets protesting and media will not want to shine light on it because of how it looks. These days it is. We have seen Eric Garner killed on camera. We have seen Mike Brown’s lifeless body lay in the street. We have seen the protests and what has caused them. Now what?

Sounds of Blackness, Optimistic

A truly positive song that got lots of airplay without being overly religious or feeling contrived. If you attended elementary school somewhere between 1991 and 1995 in a black neighborhood you sang this song at a graduation. I think we did at mine in Kindergarten. Or maybe it was during the black history program and we celebrated Nelson Mandela being freed. Either way, it was sung and we wore dashikis, the colors of black solidarity, and looked like little kings and queens or Olivia in the opening of The Cosby Show.

Bob Marley, Redemption Song

Robert Nesta Marley had a way with words in which he could make a complicated yet abstract concept sound so simple. “Redeption Song” starts out with painting the picture of blacks being captured and sold by pirates masking themselves merchants. By the second verse he is saying that slavery exists in our minds. Yes, many of our modern day prophets are being killed or thrown into jail and never to be heard from. Yet, by “fulfilling the book” means that we all have a part to play and that’s what they are doing.

Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On

By 1971, Martin was gone, Malcolm was gone, the Civil Rights bill had been signed yet it didn’t feel like change was really happening, and the war in Vietnam was literally showing soldiers coming home in caskets. Marvin didn’t have it in him to sing love songs. “What’s Going On” summed up what everyone was still thinking. Forty-four years later it still sums up the beautiful struggle. While seeing anguish, questioning the system, something about this song feels soothing while feeling like hope at the same time.