Freedom is a Constant Struggle
edited by Susie Erenrich [Black Life 323.4 Fr]
This collection of articles, songs, poetry, photographs, testimonials, visual artwork and memorabilia is one of the most comprehensive books ever published on the Civil Rights Movement.

If You Don’t Go, Don’t Hinder Me
By Bernice Johnson Reagon [Black Life 782.2 Re]
Uses song lyrics and the history of the music and its composers, including Charles Albert Tindley and Thomas Andrew Dorsey, to put into context the spirit of African American oral tradition and the evolution of gospel music.

We Shall Overcome
by Herb Boyd and others [Non-Fiction 323.4 Bo and CDW 323.4 Bo]
A journalistic overview of the major events and people of the civil rights movement, with accompanying CDs containing protest music, famous speeches and commentary.

We Who Believe in Freedom
By Bernice Johnson Reagon and Sweet Honey in the Rock [Non-Fiction 780.92 Re]
This book celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Grammy Award-winning a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock. While music is one constant of this story, freedom is another.

We’ll Understand It Better By and By: Pioneering African American Gospel Composers by Bernice Johnson Reagon [Black Life 784.756 We]
A superb collection of essays about major figures in black gospel music, including Charles A. Tindley, Lucie Campbell Williams, Thomas A. Dorsey, William H. Brewster Sr., Roberta Martin and Kenneth Morris.

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CDs

Sweet Honey in the Rock (1976) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeSw]

The Other Side (1986) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeO]

Live at Carnegie Hall (1988) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeL]

All for Freedom (1989) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeA]

Breaths (1989) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeBr]

Feel Something Drawing Me On (1989) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeF]

In This Land (1992) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeI]

I Got Shoes (1992) [Children’s Dept. CDs 782.25 SweeIg]

Still on the JourneyI (1993) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeS]

Sacred Ground (1995) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeSa]

Selections 1976 – 1988 [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeSe]

…Twenty-Five… (1998) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeTw]

Still the Same Me (2000) [Children’s Dept. CDs 782.42 SwS]

The Women Gather (2003) [Adult CDs 782.25 SweeW]

Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Songs of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement
[Adult CDs 784.4] Compiled by the Cultural Center for Social Change, this 2-disc set contains 40 songs from the Mississippi “Freedom Summer” of 1964.

Freedom Song: Original Soundtrack [Adult Cds 782.25 SweeFr]
This soundtrack from the TV movie about Mississippi grassroots activists features songs performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Movement Soul: Sounds of the Freedom Movement in the South, 1964-1964
[Oversize Adult CDs 781.63 LestW]
A collection of live recordings from the Civil Rights movement at a peak time from 1963 and 1964. Inspired moments have been chosen from mass meetings, sermons, rallies, demonstrations and individual interviews.

Peace – Back By Popular Demand by Keb’ Mo’ [Adult CDs 781.643 KebP]
Keb’ Mo’ covers nine classic protest and peace songs from the 1960s and ‘70s.

Sing for Freedom: Civil Rights Movement Songs
Over 25 songs and speeches from the American civil rights movement are included on this CD.

Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966
43 original recordings by the SNCC Freedom Singers provide a musical history of the American Civil Rights Movement.

Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony [Adult CDs 781.62 AfAm]
Includes protest songs, chants and spoken word from the South African Anti-Apartheid movement.

The Promised Land: American Indian Songs of Lament and Protest by Periwinkle
[Oversize Adult CDs 781.62 InPeP]
Contains 14 powerful songs of sorrow and dissent that communicate the often ignored plight of Native Americans in North America.

Protest: Songs of Struggle and Resistance from Around the World [781.63 ProtS]
Protest songs from around the world and throughout history are included on this CD.

Sarafina!: The Music of Liberation [Adult CDs 782.14 NG576 McSC]
The music from the Broadway show of the same title about the struggle for equality in South Africa.

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Videos/DVDs

Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony [DVDs 781.62]
Tells the story of black South African freedom music and the central role it played against apartheid. Includes interviews with musicians, freedom fighters, and even members of the former government police.

Freedom Song [Videos Fiction/Freedom]
A group of people from a small town in Mississippi risk their lives for equality and civil rights. Based on a true story.

The Songs Are Free [Videos 784.756 So]
Traces the history of communal singing and the repertoire rooted in the Black church - from songs of resistance, courage, and pride to songs of determination and faith - and explores their roles from the Underground Railroad through the Civil Rights movement and into the present.

We Shall Overcome [Videos 323.4 We]
Traces the transformation of “We Shall Overcome” from a slave song to the anthem of the civil rights movement, while showing its effects on human rights movements all over the world. Features personal accounts and historical film footage.

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Sheet Music

Carry It On: A History in Song of Working Men and Women
by Pete Seeger and Bob Reiser [Circulating Sheet Music 784.68 Se]
Has numerous songs of work and protest grouped by historical periods. Each historical section has information about the people who sang and the reasons why they sang the songs.

Compositions: One
by Bernice Johnson Reagon [Reference 784.756 Re]
This unique book includes 35 original arrangements and compositions by Bernice Johnson Reagon. Many songs are written about or dedicated to pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement. Each song is preceded by an explanation of its meaning or significance.

Continuum: The First Songbook of Sweet Honey in the Rock
[Circulating Sheet Music 783.9 Co]
Includes the music for 20 of their songs, arranged for SATB. There are original compositions by each of the group’s members, as well as arrangements of traditional songs.

Expressions of Freedom: An Anthology of African-American Spirituals
by René Boyer-Alexander [Circulating Sheet Music 783.9 Ex]
This collection of spirituals will enrich and uplift both children and adults in classrooms, choirs, community gatherings and churches. It includes arrangements of over 55 songs, historical background, suggested program uses and cultural connections.

Songs and Stories of Afro-Americans
by Paul Glass [Circulating Sheet Music 784.756 So]
African-American men and women who contributed to American music and various events in African-American history are highlighted in this book. Sheet music to songs performed by famous musicians and songs inspired by historical events are included, along with photos and lyrics.

Songs of Peace, Freedom and Protest
by Tom Glazer [Circulating Sheet Music 784.68 Gl]
Over 150 songs make up this collection of famous folk songs and protest songs. Music, guitar accompaniment, lyrics and historical information are included for each song.

Songs of Work and Protest
by Edith Fowke and Joe Glazer [Circulating Sheet Music 784.68 Fo]
This book contains information, explanations, music and lyrics for 100 different protest songs, including labor songs, slave songs and songs of revolution.

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Children’s Fiction

The Bus Ride
by William Miller [E/ Miller]
A black child protests an unjust law in this story loosely based on the life of Rosa Parks.

Follow the Leader
by Vicki Winslow [J/ Winslow]
In 1971, in a small North Carolina town, 11-year-old Amanda must deal with being bussed to a newly integrated, school that was formerly all black and being separated from her best friend who chooses to attend private school

Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins
by Carole Boston Weatherford [E/Westherford]
A portrait of the 1960 Civil Rights Sit-Ins at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, as witnessed by a young girl.

Iggie’s House
by Judy Blume [J/ Blume]
When a black family with three children moves into their white neighborhood, Winnie learns the difference between being a good neighbor and being a good friend.

The Journal of Biddy Owens: The Negro Leagues
by Walter Dean Myers [J/ Myers]
Teenager Biddy Owens’ 1948 journal is about working for the Birmingham Black Barons and describes the games the players, and the racism faced by the team as they traveled.

The Other Side
by Jacqueline Woodson [E/ Woods]
Two girls, one white and one black, gradually get to know each other as they sit on the fence that divides their town.

The Red Rose Box
by Brenda Woods [J/ Woods]
In 1953, Leah Hopper dreams of leaving the poverty and segregation of her home in Sulphur, Louisiana, and when Aunt Olivia sends train tickets to Los Angeles as part of her tenth birthday present, she gets a first taste of freedom.

A Sweet Smell of Roses
by Angela Johnson [E/ Johnson]
A tribute to the children and young adults who bravely marched with adults to protest segregation and fight for equal rights in the fifties and sixties.

White Socks Only
by Evelyn Coleman [E/ Coleman]
Grandma tells the story about her first trip alone into town during the days of blatant segregation in Mississippi.

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Children’s Non-Fiction

The 1963 March on Washington: Speeches and Songs for Civil Rights
by Jake Miller [J 323.4/Mi]
A review of the events and persons who worked together to create the 1963 March on Washington.

Brown V. Board of Education of Topeka : Challenging School Segregation in the Supreme Court
by Jake Miller [J 371.97/Mi]
A look at the conditions that forced Oliver Brown to file a desegregation suit against the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas to ensure equal rights and a good education for his daughter.

The Civil Rights Movement – Journey to Freedom
by Rose Venable [J 323.4/Ve]
Reviews the major events that occurred as African Americans fought for equal rights in the Civil Rights Movement.

The Little Rock Nine: Young Champions for School Integration
by Jake Miller [J 371.97/Mi]
Describes how nine black students faced an angry mob as they integrated Little Rock, Arkansas’ Central High School.

The March From Selma to Montgomery: African Americans Demand the Vote
by Jake Miller [J 323.4/Mi]
Closely examines the issues revolving around the efforts at voter registration and the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

Oh, Freedom! : Kids Talk About the Civil Rights Movement With the People Who Made It Happen
by Casey King and Linda Barret Osborne [J 323.4/Ki]
Interviews with young people and people who took part in the civil rights movement are accompanied by essays that describe the history of efforts to make equality a reality for African Americans.

Let It Shine: Stories of Women Freedom Fighters
by Andrea Davis Pinkney [J 920/Pi]
Shares the personal stories of ten African American women freedom fighters and describes the challenges and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement that spanned American history from the eighteenth century to the present day.

Powerful Words: More than 200 Years of Extraordinary Writing by African Americans
collected by Wade Hudson [J 808.5/Hu]
This collection of writings shares many African Americans’ ideas that illustrate important information about the world they lived in -- and in many cases, how they tried to change it.

Songs of Protest and Civil Rights
by Jerry Silverman [J 784.756/Si]
An illustrated song book of the music sung during the Civil Rights Protests of the 1960’s.

Tell All the Children Our Story: Memories and Mementos of Being Young and Black in America
by Tonya Bolden [J 920 /Bo]
Using photos, pictures and personal statements, this book examines the lives of young African American children through several historical periods in the United States.

We Shall Overcome: The History of the American Civil Rights Movement
by Reggie Finlayson [J 323.4/FI]
A discussion about the U.S. Civil Rights Movement is framed by the words of spirituals and other music of the era.

WITNESSES TO FREEDOM: Young People who fought for Civil Rights
by Belinda Rochelle [J 324.4/Ro]
Describes the experiences of young African Americans who were involved in significant events in the civil rights movement.

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Collected Children’s Biographies

Afro-Bets Book of Black Heroes from A to Z
by Wade Hudson and Valerie Wilson Wesley [J 920/ Hu]
Offers brief biographical information about many famous African American personalities.

Follow in Their Footsteps: Biographies of Ten Outstanding African Americans
by Glennette Tilley Turner [J 920/ Tu]
Here are the stories of ten outstanding African Americans who achieved success and made lasting contributions in many fields.

They Had a Dream: The Civil Rights Struggle from Frederick Douglass to Marcus Garvey to Martin Luther King to Malcolm X
by Jules Archer [J 920/Ar]
This look at the Civil Rights Movement and these four Civil Rights leaders illustrates the fight for equality and how American society has evolved to accommodate many changes.

Take a Walk in Their Shoes
by Glennette Tilley Turner [J 920/ Tu]
Here are biographies of fourteen African Americans who achieved success despite the odds against them.

Women of Hope: African Americans who Made a Difference
by Joyce Hansen [J 920/ Ha]
Here, spanning over a century, are thirteen extraordinary African American women who forged new paths and helped to make our world a better place.

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Internet Resources

Freedom and protest songs of the United States
http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/historical/freedom.html
This site, designed for kids, gives a brief overview of protest songs in the United States, including the Civil Rights Movement.

Lift Every Voice and Sing: Protest Songs
http://www.lib.virginia.edu/speccol/exhibits/music/protest.html
The University of Virginia Library presents a variety of songs (lyrics & sheet music) that were sung during periods of social unrest in the United States.

Strange Fruit: Songs of the Civil Rights Movement
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/strangefruit/protest.html
Presents Protest Songs from throughout United States history including the Civil Rights Movement with photos, audio clips and lyrics. Sponsored by the PBS program “Independent Lens.”

Civil Rights Movement: A Photographic History 1954 - 1968
http://www.abbeville.com/civilrights/
Based on the book of the same title by Steve Kahser, this page offers both text and photographs about significant events in the Civil Rights Movement.

Voices of Civil Rights
http://www.voicesofcivilrights.org
This site collects and preserves "personal accounts of America's struggle to fulfill the promise of equality for all." Listen to someone’s story or submit your own.

Way Back – Stand Up For Your Rights
http://pbskids.org/wayback/civilrights/
Especially for kids, this site features the history of civil rights in America from religious freedom to racial desegregation to women and the vote. Includes a site dedicated to the Little Rock Nine.

We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement
http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/
Gives an overview of the Civil Rights Movement through the places where significant events occurred. Contains photographs, an interactive map and an excellent list of resources.

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