RAISING OUR VOICES: INEQUALITY AND PROTEST SONGS

Page 2 Session 1 Rights, Freedom Songs and the Civil Rights Movement

Page 3 EQUALITY What does this mean? 2+24

Page 4 RIGHTS Every person has a basic right to … … a home … clean water … enough to eat … a safe environment … protection from violence … equality of opportunity … a say in their future … an education … a livelihood … health care

Page 5 THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE Chorus This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Verse 1 Everywhere I go I’m going to let it shine Everywhere I go I’m going to let it shine Everywhere I go I’m going to let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Chorus This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Verse 2 All in my house I’m going to let it shine All in my house I’m going to let it shine All in my house I’m going to let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Chorus This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Verse 3 Out in the dark I’m going to let it shine Out in the dark I’m going to let it shine Out in the dark I’m going to let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine Repeat chorus

Page 6 THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT “This Little Light of Mine” became known as a Freedom Song during the Civil Rights Movement in the United States of America. Black Americans suffered many challenges as they were not seen as equal to white Americans. The Civil Rights Movement was a fight for equality between white and black Americans. It called for all Americans to have the same opportunities and rights and for there to be no segregation due to race.

Page 7 In America during this time, black Americans were not allowed to use “whites only” public facilities, such as housing, schools, medical care and drinking fountains. Even the buses were split into different areas for black and white people. THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT An African-American man drinking at a "colored" drinking fountain

Page 8 THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT ROSA PARKS Rosa Parks took a stand about the split on the buses by refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Other people followed her example and there was a boycott of the buses. Rosa became a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement.

Page 9 THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT MARTIN LUTHER KING Martin Luther King was also a key person in the Civil Rights Movement. His “I Have A Dream” speech became very famous.

Page 10 FREEDOM SONGS Many Freedom Songs originated from songs which were sung by slaves, or were influenced by gospel music (sung in black American churches). Singing together in a group helps people to remember that they are not alone, and is a way for them to express themselves. Some of the songs took on special meanings and were used by activists to join people together to fight for their rights, particularly during the Civil Rights Movement.

Page 11 Session 2 Protest songs

Page 12 NINA SIMONE Nina Simone (1933–2003) was a singer and pianist who sang and wrote music supporting the Civil Rights Movement. Some of Nina’s music was jazz. Jazz is a genre of American music which began in America with influences from Africa. A lot of jazz is also influenced by gospel music. Listen to her song “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free”, from 1967.

Page 13 JOAN BAEZ Joan Baez (born 1941) is a folk musician. Folk musicians also wrote and performed songs that became Freedom Songs. Joan was one of the first musicians to use her popularity to sing about human rights, equality and peace. Listen to her song “We Shall Overcome” from 1963.

Page 14 J. COLE J. Cole (born 1985) is a current hip-hop rapper, who uses his music to talk about the on-going racial inequality in America, which persists despite the progress made since the Civil Rights Movement. Listen to his song “Be Free” from 2014.

Page 15 Session 3 Protest in Latin America and other forms of inequality

Page 16 LATIN AMERICA Where is Chile? Where is Bolivia?

Page 17 VICTOR JARA Victor Jara was a musician from Chile. Listen to his song. Do you know what language he is singing in? This song is called “A desalambrar” (Take Down the Fences). This was a new form of protest song in Latin America during the 1960–1970s called Nueva Canción (New Song).

Page 18 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE What are indigenous people? Indigenous people are people who originally lived in a particular place, before it was invaded or taken over by incomers. Click onto the next slide to see an example.

Page 19 Indigenous women in La Paz, Bolivia

Page 20 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN LATIN AMERICA In Latin America, indigenous people are often denied their rights to land because of racial inequality. This means that they often live in poverty, which makes them vulnerable to shocks, such as floods. Farmland is particularly vital to poor people in developing countries. They need it to be able to make a living. However many people, especially women, have no legal rights to their land which means that they can be driven off it and left with no way of growing food or selling their crops to make money.

Page 21 VICTOR JARA “Take Down the Fences” is a song asking listeners to think about people’s rights to own the land that they live on. Victor Jara used music to speak up for the rights of indigenous people. He believed that they should not suffer because of racial discrimination and that governments should be fairer.