The late John Lewis’s favorite poem was apparently “Invictus,” a problematic lyric but one can see how Lewis used it in the cause of social justice.
Tag Archives: Civil Rights Movement
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Both Martin Luther King and James Weldon Johnson, in “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” drew strength and courage from the Book of Exodus.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Exodus, James Weldon Johnson, Lift Every Voice and Sing, Martin Luther King, slavery Comments closed
Obama Tells Black Graduates to Soar
Michelle Obama used images of flight in a recent commencement speech at Tuskegee University. It was reminiscent of the way Toni Morrison uses flight in “Song of Solomon.”
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged commencement speeches, First Lady, Michelle Obama, Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison, Tuskegee airmen, Tuskegee University Comments closed
Selma’s Bloody History
Gregory Orr’s poem recalls his arrests in Alabama in 1965.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "On a Highway East of Selma Alabama", Gregory Orr, Selma, voting rights Comments closed
Keeping the Civil Rights Dream Alive
Great Civil Rights moments are great. Movements are better.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "meeting after the savior gone", Highlander Folk School, Lucille Clifton, Martin Luther King, racism Comments closed
Ain’t gonna let the SC turn me ’round
The Supreme Court’s assault on the Voting Rights Act means we may have to break out the old freedom songs again.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round", freedom songs, Scott Bates Comments closed
Harper Lee’s White Liberal Fantasy
Important though it was, “To Kill a Mockingbird” was also a white liberal fantasy.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Blues for Mister Charlie, Harper Lee, James Baldwin, liberalism, racism, To Kill a Mockingbird Comments closed
The White Liberal in Civil Rights Lit
White Liberals suffer a downward spiral in 1960’s Civil Rights Literature, from heroic Atticus Finch to “Radical Chic” Leonard Bernstein.
Posted in Uncategorized Also tagged Blues for Mister Charlie, Eldridge Cleaver, Harper Lee, James Baldwin, Radical Chic, Soul on Ice, To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Wolve, White Liberals Comments closed
