freedom songs

May 1963

BirminghamAlabama

the civil rights movement & freedom songs

On Friday, May 3rd, a protest was set to happen. Young kids and adults had rallied together at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in preparation for the protest. It was reported that only a few hundred of Birmingham's 7,386 African American students attended school that day.

"DOUBLE D-DAY"

1963

This protest turned into one like no other. With all jails being dangerously overcrowded with protesters from previous rallies, the commissioner of public safety, Bull Connor, ordered police to use attack dogs and fire hoses on the peaceful protesters.

"DOUBLE D-DAY" CONTINUED

1963

The conditions in the jails and prison yards were now "deplorable." There were as many as 80 people stuffed in a cell made for 10. People had to sleep in shifts, and there were only 5 toilets that served hundreds of people. When food was available, it was inedible.

Conditions

Jails/Arrests

Throughout all the demonstrations that took place in Birmingham, as many as 3,000 adults and children alike were arrested. Yet, even in jail, they continued to sing. "When you're arrested, sing your hearts out!"

1963

The cops parted to let the peaceful, kneeling marchers pass; the firemen disobeyed Connor's instructions to blast them.

TRUCE DAY

Reverend Charles Billups jr led a congregation of 1000 on a walk singing the song "I want Jesus to walk with me" towards the south side jail. The party was met by Connor as well as many police and firemen. Connor ordered the congregation to disperse, but Billups declared "Turn on your water, turn loose your dogs, we will stand here till we die."

Sunday, May 5th

Signal Moment

The Songs

One of the most famous songs associated with the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement is "We Shall Overcome," which became an anthem of the Movement as a whole. In addition to "We Shall Overcome," many other songs were also used in the Movement, including "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round," "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize," and "Oh Freedom." These songs helped to communicate their message of justice and equality to the broader public. "These songs, so powerful in their ability to inspire the marchers with the courage to face Bull Connor and his men, were very important in helping us keep the movement strong...it was a beautiful example of the power of music to fill people with God's strength"

The Singing

During the Birmingham campaign of 1963, The protesters sang spirituals, hymns, and protest songs as they marched to energize and unify the crowds. Music helped to create a sense of solidarity and togetherness among the protesters, and it also helped to spread their message to a wider audience.

FREEDOM SONGS

1963

• At least token black hirings
• the abolishment of desegregation ordinances
• the dropping of charges against jailed participants
• the establishment of a biracial committee to discuss other objectives

THE POINTS OF PROGRESS:

Points of Progress

When negotiations began after March 8th, the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, as well as the Southern Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, used demands from what the movement called "Points of Progress."

NEGOTIATIONS

1963

Results

The agreement's details were revealed in the days that followed, including:

• the downtown department stores' commitment to hire black workers within sixty days,
• desegregate within ninety days,
• and form a biracial panel within two weeks.

Although the final 800 adult prisoners had to make bond, more young protesters were let out of jail. Birmingham municipal leaders remained silent despite widespread praise for the agreement. According to one estimate, more than 300,000 dollars were lost due to the year-long boycott (also called selective shopping) by African Americans.

After May 8th

2.) In the present day, do you think that protesters would get results using the same approach as the Birmingham protesters? (allowing themselves to get arrested/beaten/singing freedom songs throughout everything)

Discussion Questions

1.) If the protesters had not been singing every step of the way, would the same amount of progress have been made? Would there be the same amount of motivation and determination without the freedom songs?