• During the Civil Right Movement, African Americans fought for change and equality in America. A change that would allow all men to be treated as equals. Historically, many musicians shared their pains and sorrows through song, giving hope to others that a better day would come and one day they too, would be treated as equals. • During that time many songs came out during the movement but there was one song that really inspired many people that one day change was going to come. • The R & B (Rhythm and Blues) song that I’ve chosen is “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke • “A Change is Gonna Come” is a song written and song by an American recording artiste Sam Cooke and produced by Hugo & Luigi and arranged and conducted by Rene Hall. • “A Change is Goona Come” was inspired by many personal events in Cooke’s life, pacifically an event where he and his band members were denied the right to stay at a white’s only hotel at the Louisiana Holiday Inn for the color of his skin in 1963. • By writing and recording this song Cooke wanted to a song that spoke about his struggle and those around him. • When “A Change is Gonna Come” was released it became known as the national anthem for the Civil Rights movement. • “In 2007, the song was selected for preservation in the library of congress, with the National Recording Registry deeming the song ‘culturally, historically important.” • The Civil Rights Movement began in 1954 • During the civil rights movement many African Americans were denied: o the right to be served in restaurants o the right to stay in a hotel o the right to walk or live in a white only neighborhood o the right to attend white schools o the right to ride in the front of the bus o the right to vote o the right to hold a government positions • The list goes on and on and on… 3. A description of which groups were privileged during the event or era and how they asserted their privilege • The privileged group would be white American many White Americans asserted their privilege by: o killing African Americans o beating them o false accusations o denying them the right to sit at the counter o denying them the right to live in the same neighborhoods o denying them the right to sit next to them on the bus or even in the front of the bus o denying them the right to go to school with them • The list goes on and on and on… • Many people saw the song as a sign of hope; a hope that one day change would come despite the hardship and their current situation. • When listening to this song you start to think about how America’s first black president, President Barack Obama, was elected. Shows that some change has come to America race relations. • Obama also paraphrased Cooke during his victory speech in Chicago’s Grant Park, saying that “it’s been a long time coming, but tonight, change has come to America” • Sam Cooke stands as one of the most important voices in American popular music ever. He helped layout the framework for modern soul music, while also prevailing over a music industry that at the time was notorious for undervaluing its African American talents. • “A change is Gonna Come” inspired a lot of people. It was a part of a movement that’s associated with social change promoting equal rights and bringing awareness to peace. • Even thought it was hard and sometimes they may have felt that they needed to quit. Listening to Cook’s song was inspirational and gave people hope that one day change would come. • Music always plays a role in social protest because it allows people to feel and connect to the artist on how they may have felt, in this case the Civil rights movement and how it may affect them. • And is still used by many music artist and in film and currently ranked in the Top 100 best records of all time. To believe Beyoncé’s tribute to Sam Cooke

• published: 04 May 2016
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