Soundtrack for a Revolution: Pop Music and Protest Tradition in America | National Humanities Center

Humanities in Class: Webinar Series

Soundtrack for a Revolution: Pop Music and Protest Tradition in America

American History; Protests; Popular Music

Claudrena Harold (Professor and Department Chair of History, University of Virginia)

September 3, 2020

How can pop music help us understand historical movements? Does music have an effect on the outcome of protests throughout history? How does music foster connections between people in pursuit of a common goal? Through an examination of pioneering artists such as Sam Cooke, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, and Curtis Mayfield, this webinar explores the evolution of protest music in America from the Civil Rights era to the present. It considers how musicians in a variety of genres—most notably soul, funk, and hip hop—have used their art to critique racism, class exploitation, militarism, and state-sanctioned violence.


Subjects

Music / History / American History / Protests / Popular Music /