In the first episode of our Five from the Archives series, we tell the story behind the rise of the protest song “We Shall Overcome,” featuring its journey from the southern black church to the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement--as well as its connection to the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Recordings featured in this episode:
- “We Shall Overcome” as performed by Guy Carawan, circa 1980, from the George Armstrong collection
- “Glory of Love” as performed by Big Bill Broonzy at Circle Pines Center, Mich., 1950s
Sources:
- Sing for Freedom: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through its Songs by Guy and Candie Carawan
- Liner notes of Voices of the Civil Rights Movement, by Bernice Johnson Reagon http://media.smithsonianfolkways.org/liner_notes/smithsonian_folkways/SFW40084.pdf
- The Library of Congress - https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2014/02/tracing-the-long-journey-of-we-shall-overcome/
