Music That Made The Movement - 1495 Words

Music that Made the Movement The United States is a country which was formed by the hard work of the First Nations people, the British, and African Americans. Unfortunately, blacks were subjected to slavery. In the 1900’s blacks were becoming more discontented, thus began the emergence of the civil rights movement. Along with rallies and peaceful protests, music played a very important role in bringing change to a society where white supremacy reigned. In addition to their efforts, jazz and blues artists also contributed to the building of a strong America. Four black teenagers were arrested in the town of Marion, Indiana in the early morning of August 7, 1930. Sixteen-year-old James Cameron, nineteen-year-old Abram Smith and†¦show more content†¦The mob then took Abram and dragged him to a large tree to be hanged. When he resisted, the lynchers broke his arms, stabbed him and was hung. Thomas’ body was then brought from the jail and was hung next to Abram’s. Miraculously, when the mob was preparing a fire to light under the bodies of Thomas and Abram, a voice denied James’ involvement in the crime. He avoided his own hanging and was brought back to prison. The photographs of the two bodies hanging from the tree inspired Abel Meeropol, a teacher, to write the poem and song â€Å"Strange Fruit†. In 1939, jazz singer Billie Holiday adapted the song into her set list. With lyrics such as: â€Å"Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.† It gives the horrific imagery of the bodies hanging from the trees and glimpse of the life in picturesque South. Holiday’s performance of the song soon became a hallmark for the early civil rights movements as she often became overcome with emotions as she performed the song each night. â€Å"Strange Fruit† was the first significant protest in words and music, the first unmuted cry against racism and is what many describe as the beginning of the civil rights movement. On September 15, 1963, the parishioners of the 16th Street Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama congregated to for their weekly Sunday service. This particular Sunday was the Church’s Youth Day. In the