Freedom in the 1960s

The Definition of the American Freedom

Civil Rights were the definition for American Freedom. African Americans were fighting for civil rights. This was an era when Martin Luther King Jr. was at the forefront of the civil rights movement and gave him "I have a dream speech". This was a time when freedom was defined as more than just rights, they needed rights and protection. There was a new idea of a world where society did not judge by the color of their skin and freedom would be to not be held or pushed into standards where they faced discrimination, hate, direct violence and racism. 

Amend Episode 4

This episode contained events like The Children's Crusade, which was children getting involved in the non-violent protests which led to Alabama police arresting them, JFK's address to the nation which came as a result of MLK Jr's arrest and letter, which confirmed that they were being told to wait again, which led to The March on Washington in 1963 which called for leaders in positions of privilege to fight alongside for equality. The final significant event was the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by President JFK. Significant places along these events were Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama, where a lot of the protest and arrests happened. This is also a big transition in which the Women's Rights movement follows. It leads to big conversation for the liberties that people needed to talk about. 

Amend Ep. 4

Music as Protest

This assignment was on observing music as a form of protest during this time. Music allowed people to unite and form a new idea of liberty. 

For the different songs, I noticed that each felt like a specific message. The way he spoke, the words he used, the tone of the music, the spacing between lines. It almost felt like slam poetry with music as a background. For "Whitey on the moon", he spoke of things happening in this country, how taxes takes half his paycheck etc. Specifically, in "The Revolution will not be televised", his message was that the big companies don't want to televise the revolution, they distance themselves from it because they would have to look at their own values and practices. This music connects to the time period that we are studying because as much as there were civil rights protests and demonstrations, music was also a form of protest. These are forms of protest songs, it calls to action and tells a story that spreads awareness. 

I can make so many connections between the video for "This is America" and current events. When the video first released, I was so intrigued to dissect every intentional message that Childish Gambino wanted to say. There is so many metaphors, imagery and symbolism in every part. This video advocates against police brutality, mass shootings, racial profiling and racism. I consider this one of the highest forms of protest songs. He released this while the country was in a state of turmoil, to send a message. 

Link to Episode:

This is America Music Video

Chapter Question:

The source and significance of the rights revolution of the late 1960s were many events that led to the revolution for change and rights. One of the bigger events was Brown vs. Board of Education and the Bus Boycotts. Rosa Parks and her actions were part of what kick started the revolution, at least into the forefront of news media. This revolution began to be talked about in major publications and nation wide. The Boycotts were something else that led to the beginning of demonstrations and the peaceful resistance that Dr. King Jr. pushed for. There were multiple moments leading to the revolution, but these were at the forefront of the civil rights movement.