A Rhetorical Analysis Of We Shall Overcome Speech
The Anthem of the Civil Right’s Movement: A Rhetorical Criticism of “We Shall Overcome”
By: Lucas Eckrich
Professor Worthington
FYS: Rhetoric of the Civil Rights Era
Introduction The American traditional “We Shall Overcome,” is the song of the Civil Right’s struggle. From its roots in early spirituals to its re-imagination in twentieth century gospels, “We Shall Overcome” encompasses the history of the civil rights movement. Its collective longevity and deep roots in the African American community make it the perfect song for the movement. From performances by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez to singing led by John Lewis in SNCC, “We Shall Overcome” became a rhetoric molded idiosyncratically by its different rhetors. However, “We Shall …show more content…
Because of Pete Seeger’s and countless others’ influence, the song found its way into the voices of hundreds of northern and southern protesters during the movement. Everybody in the movement knew the song and furthermore, everybody could join together in it. “We Shall Overcome” also made its way into speeches ranging from the “March on Washington” to jails in the South. John Lewis remarked in his book “Walking With the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement” that SNCC would sing the song as a group walking towards demonstrations and would even sing it during their jail-ins even if it meant losing their beds.xiii This song was powerful enough to be sung during police violence and picketing but also during funerals and celebrations.xiv It’s as if the song represented a communion for the congregation of protesters who joined together in the fight against racism and inequality, because the song was normally sung in groups as a way of empowering and motivating the protestors and individuals in the Civil Right’s struggle.
The song also brought Civil Right’s to the forefront of the country’s attention. The folk music scene was beginning to become popular in the early sixties and artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez brought these issues to mainstream audiences. The folk scene also gave importance to issues of war, wealth, and politics which gave “We Shall Overcome” a springboard to be catapulted from into the forefront of both the folk and Civil Right’s
By: Lucas Eckrich
Professor Worthington
FYS: Rhetoric of the Civil Rights Era
Introduction The American traditional “We Shall Overcome,” is the song of the Civil Right’s struggle. From its roots in early spirituals to its re-imagination in twentieth century gospels, “We Shall Overcome” encompasses the history of the civil rights movement. Its collective longevity and deep roots in the African American community make it the perfect song for the movement. From performances by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez to singing led by John Lewis in SNCC, “We Shall Overcome” became a rhetoric molded idiosyncratically by its different rhetors. However, “We Shall …show more content…
Because of Pete Seeger’s and countless others’ influence, the song found its way into the voices of hundreds of northern and southern protesters during the movement. Everybody in the movement knew the song and furthermore, everybody could join together in it. “We Shall Overcome” also made its way into speeches ranging from the “March on Washington” to jails in the South. John Lewis remarked in his book “Walking With the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement” that SNCC would sing the song as a group walking towards demonstrations and would even sing it during their jail-ins even if it meant losing their beds.xiii This song was powerful enough to be sung during police violence and picketing but also during funerals and celebrations.xiv It’s as if the song represented a communion for the congregation of protesters who joined together in the fight against racism and inequality, because the song was normally sung in groups as a way of empowering and motivating the protestors and individuals in the Civil Right’s struggle.
The song also brought Civil Right’s to the forefront of the country’s attention. The folk music scene was beginning to become popular in the early sixties and artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez brought these issues to mainstream audiences. The folk scene also gave importance to issues of war, wealth, and politics which gave “We Shall Overcome” a springboard to be catapulted from into the forefront of both the folk and Civil Right’s