Mrs.+B's+Model+for+TASK+III

Home Who Is a Person In America?

While black Americans were emancipated in the mid-19th century, they still faced segregation, racism, and limited opportunities for education and employment. Many supporters of the freed slaves encouraged blacks to relocate to the North to escape the injustices prevalent in the Jim Crow South. Booker T. Washington presented a controversial speech in 1895 in which he suggested that blacks remain in the South to continue work on plantations. He also encouraged whites to employ freed slaves rather than immigrants who were pouring into the country at the time (English). Washington believed that blacks needed stable employment to open the door to education, and ultimately genuine freedom. The struggle for equality of the races continued well into the 20th century and has been a source of great sorrow, tragedy, and profound hope. The legacy of the civil rights movement is evident in art, music, literature, and myriad persons that fought for equality.
 * For Example Purposes, this is a summary of the event and the argument that evolved from it.**


 * TASK III: **

(As sung by Nina Simone) (Written by Billy Taylor)
 * I Wish I knew How it Would Feel to be Free**

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free I wish I could break all the chains holding me I wish I could say all the things that I should say say 'em loud, say 'em clear for the whole round world to hear.

I wish I could share all the love that's in my heart remove all the bars that keep us apart I wish you could know what it means to be me Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free.

I wish I could give all I'm longing to give I wish I could live like I'm longing to live I wish that I could do all the things that I can do though I'm way overdue I'd be starting anew.

Well I wish I could be like a bird in the sky how sweet it would be if I found I could fly Oh I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea and I'd sing cos I'd know that and I'd sing cos I'd know that and I'd sing cos I'd know that I'd know how it feels to be free I'd know how it feels to be free I'd know how it feels to be free

**__Paragraph 1:__ Analyze the impact of the literary or artistic work for the minority group and/or American society as a whole.** While there were countless voices in support of civil rights in the 1950's and 60's, Billy Taylor's song, "I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free," stands out as "one of the most influential political songs of the civil rights decade" (Bennett). Upon first listening to the song, it would seem to relate specifically to the emancipation of slaves, but with thought and reflection, listeners will realize that its message can apply to any oppressed people. The idea of freedom is not merely that of living without literal chains, but with the freedom of opportunity to pursue a satisfying, even happy life. Taylor makes this point clear when he writes, "I wish I could say all the things that I should say / say 'em loud, say 'em clear / for the whole world to hear" ("Allspirit Lyrics"). Music has the ability to reach a wide audience and thus motivate and inspire people to act. Booker T. Washington inspired oppressed black Americans to seek a means to be free and move forward, Billy Taylor reminded us that oppression still exists, albeit in a new, insidious form, and Nina Simone, as the first musician to sing Taylor's words, lead a generation to pause and reflect on the fact that there is still work to be done in order for all men and women to be truly free.

Works Cited "I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free." //Allspirit Lyrics//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct 2011. .

Bill Bennett and Barry Kernfeld. " Taylor, Billy (ii) ." //The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz// , 2nd ed. Ed. Barry Kernfeld. //Grove Music Online//. //Oxford Music Online//. 4 Oct. 2011 < http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/J442000 >.

English, Bertis. "Atlanta Exposition Address (Atlanta Compromise)." //Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present: From the Age of Segregation to the Twenty-first Century//. Ed. PaulFinkelman. //Oxford African American Studies Center//. Tue Oct 04 12:41:33 EDT 2011. .