The spiritual I selected titled "We Shall Overcome" is both a well-known spiritual and a widely spread protest song. It originally evolved from older songs like "I'll Be All Right Someday" and "I'll Overcome Someday" by Charles Tindley. The lyrics are repetitive saying, "Deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome someday" to emphasize hope for a better life in times of suffering or hardship. The main refrain has only a few main words, but these are often switched to make different "verses" such as "We shall live in peace" or "We shall all be free." This song ultimately represents collective hope and community resilience, making it very powerful to hear many voices singing the song. I chose this song because it reveals the ways spirituals can be used outside of the sacred context, despite their sacred history. I also think it is so powerful to listen to a song like this and apply it to various struggles for justice in our country. This song has been performed at many rallies and was used so often in the Civil Rights Movement. I chose to link Joan Baez's performance of this spiritual at the March on Washington in the height of the Civil Rights Movement because it exemplifies the purpose of this song and its lyrics: to unite a group of people to feel hope and empowerment while working toward a common goal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7akuOFp-ET8&list=RD7akuOFp-ET8&start_radio=1
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