Aretha Franklin's Respect: The Queen Of Music In The 1960s

Carrying such powerful lines as “the world is big / big and bright and round / and it's full of folks like me” (Simone, 1967), Backlash Blues became a popular song in the civil rights movement, allowing African Americans to express their proudness and protest racism in a more accessible way. Freedom songs such as Backlash Blues were and are still so significant to African Americans as they “sustain as well as … publicise the struggle[s]” they face (Stefani, 2015). Furthermore,

Radio and Television The music of the 1960s and 1970s definitely had an impact on culture and society in the United States. Protest music, specifically, brought ideas, as well as problems, to the attention of many Americans. Radio stations across the nation were a big part of the spread of protest music. Radio experienced a boom after World War II.

Per Claudia Roth Pierpont’s article in the New Yorker entitled “A Raised Voice”, Pierpont argues that Simone had a small feeling for the Biblically curved elevate that characterized the songs of praise of the time. Not only being known for her activism, Nina Simone left her mark on Civil Rights Movement with her songs and willingness to bring awareness to Social Injustice through her Musical

Winter of 2008, Black History Month, and my third grade music teacher, announces, “Stand up if you would have been a victim of segregation,” following with, “Now, everyone look around.” February. The month of Rosa Parks, “I Had A Dream,” marches, and sit-ins. The month I had begun to despise greater each year. The month where I would be chosen to lead many readings and join classroom discussions, as if my being ‘black’ would provide some clarity that would enhance the learning experience for my fellow peers.

African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States.

Zora Neale Hurston addressed African American life many years before Alice Walker did. Looking at “Everyday Use” and “Sweat,” discuss the similarities and differences you find in their treatment of women and what, in the end, if anything has changed. Don’t forget to note the subtleties….. Even though Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Walker wrote many years apart they have many similarities in their writing.

There was rock, folk music, and many more. But, in the late sixties Rock n Roll, commonly reckoned as the golden age of rock and roll when it attained a maturity unimaginable for the delinquent rebellion of the fifties, there are numerous references to the Vietnam War. The criticism of the war is submerged in or displaced by the politics of sexuality, lifestyle, and drugs. Rock music of that time period celebrated anti-materialism, spiritual awakening and social disengagement (James pg 133). Like the social movement it made possible, hippie music was ideologically and economically assimilable.

In the midst of the civil rights movement, motown music brought people together in spite of the racial issues going on at the time (The Sound That Changed America). Motown gave way for social and racial equality in music and, as Craig Werner said, “Motown is the foundation of rock and roll, even more than the Beatles and Elvis” (Provenzano, The magic of Motown). Motown had a large part in the civil right movement by desegregating music and demonstrating how obtainable dreams are no matter the color of your skin, while proving to the skeptics and cynics that anyone can make music. In addition, from Berry Gordy’s experience at Lincoln-Mercury, he set up a system at Motown called Quality Control, in order to ensure only top product would be released (The Sound That Changed America). In 1968, Motown had five records out of the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and accomplished another unprecedented feat by seizing the top three spots for a full month (The Sound That Changed America).

As Gentrification and politics change our very neighborhoods, we must reflect on the differences and the struggles of equality in our life. Fortunately for me , I feel as if I lived in a city that is known as a Mecca for African Americans. Atlanta has served as a Mecca for racial unrest in cultures ultimately creating peace and tranquility in Georgia’s State Capital. As a majority African American city, black people make an impact on the city and serve as the power of the city. Through my project, I wanted to show how prominent figures that are mostly born in Atlanta (some were born in other parts of Georgia or moved at early ages) reflect and support the community when dealing with black struggles in society.

This would have an impact on such things as rock and roll, and even hip hop music too. Rock and Roll music faced many challenges in its early years because it was created in a time when racial segregatiofn was still very common and overt racism still rampant, and yet it appealed to teens and young adults of all ethnic backgrounds. The American Civil Rights Movement (around 1954) had barely started, but this actually helped to facilitate the spread of Rock and Roll while also aligning more and more young Americans to the fight for equal rights and an end to racism. This is because the genre combines different styles of music that had previously been labeled strictly as “black” or as “white”, but which disappeared when merged into Rock and Roll

Rock music in the 1960s was egalitarian, eclectic, and real based on a number of reasons. To explain the 'real' piece of rock music in the 1960s, one would have to know that there was war going on overseas that didn't make sense to Americans as to why it was going on (the Vietnam war). There was also still severe inequality between blacks and whites causing protests to occur via the Civil Rights movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. There was inequality between women and mens rights. These issues caused dissatisfaction to occur in the American people.

Wherever we may come from, we can do amazing things in this world. In this world, every human being can be anything they strive to be. Lupe Fiasco released the inspirational song, “The Show Goes On,” on October 26, 2010, as the first single from his third studio album Lasers. He uses motivational and inspirational phrases to motivate the audience to never give up even if they are going through the hardest parts of their lives. Fiasco uses his past to connect to the targeted audience, that being the less fortunate families and those who grew up in harsh conditions.

The African-American experience in the United States is one the has evolved and passed through several distinct stages. First was slavery, shifting to a hundred year era of lynchings and legal segregation after the American Civil War, to an era of fighting for civil rights and against the cultural stereotypes maintained from the past eras. From the frustrations during this last era arose rap and hip-hop culture, which became a voice for black Americans. The song “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, became the first prominent hip-hop song that provided social commentary on what it is like to live in an inner-city neighborhood in an attempt to challenge the perception of black people in America.

Cultural Impact of Rock and Roll Amidst the 1960’s Jimi Hendrix formerly stated, “Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.” A generation which was earnestly devoted to peace, protest, and revolution, the counterculture amongst the 1960’s yearned for change. Rock and roll was far beyond just a genre of music; it influenced lifestyles, protests, and attitudes, thus, kindling an awakening in the youth of American culture. The distinction between parental and youth culture was a persistent root of concern, considering that teens throughout the world found a sense of belonging in this style of music.

The 1960s were an interesting time for a young American trying to make it in music. There were so many social issues taking place that made for a chaotic world. Some examples of that were the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the lasting effects of the world war, the civil rights movement, and the vietnam war just to name a few. This left an ominous feeling inside of young Americans, but made for a lot of writing material for musical artists. One artists who fully took advantage of this was none other than Bob Dylan, whose music is regarded as some of the best of all time.