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Lesson

The Music of the Civil Rights Movement

Grade
9–12
Published
Nov 15, 2020
A woman playing guitar and singing, while a man with an acoustic guitar looks on in a public performance setting.
Use this lesson with the Freedom Riders Narrative; The March on Birmingham Narrative; the Black Power Narrative; the Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter from Birmingham Jail," 1963 Primary Source; the Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream," August 28, 1963 Primary Source; the Civil Disobedience across Time Lesson; and the Civil Rights DBQ Lesson to discuss the different aspects of the civil rights movement during the 1960s.

Founding Principles

Equality

Virtues

Perseverance

Learning objectives

In this lesson, developed by and included with the permission of TeachRock, students will address the essential question: How did popular music reflect the values of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and help the movement convey its message?

Students will examine:

  • the role of music as a motivating force in the civil rights movement.
  • the history of “We Shall Overcome” and its central importance to the civil rights movement.
  • the ways in which popular songs of different musical genres reflected the values and beliefs of the civil rights movement.
  • the effectiveness of music in spreading the message of the civil rights movement.

Access The Music of the Civil Rights Movement and accompanying materials on TeachRock’s website.

Standards

Check whether this resource aligns with your state’s standards →

Related materials

Cover of "Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness" featuring historical figures and texts related to American rights.
PageLife, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

In our resource history is presented through a series of narratives, primary sources, and point-counterpoint debates that invites students to participate in the ongoing conversation about the American experiment.