Ep 7, Rhythm and Blues and the Civil Rights Movement

Rhythm and Blues wasn’t just a genre—it was a powerful force in the fight for civil rights. In this episode of The Cause: Conversations on Music, History, and Democracy, Dr. Reiland Rabaka explores how R&B artists used their music to challenge injustice, inspire activism, and uplift communities during one of the most pivotal times in American history.

From Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” to James Brown’s “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud”, R&B legends shaped the movement with anthems of hope, resistance, and empowerment. These songs provided a voice for those demanding change, bridging the gap between the struggle and the soundtrack that carried it forward.

Join us as we uncover the deep connection between music and activism, and how these iconic artists helped shape the course of history—one song at a time.

The Breakdown

Discography
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  • Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”
  • Louis Jordan’s “I’m Gonna Leave You on the Outskirts of Town”
  • Oscar Brown Jr.’s “Forty Acres and A Mule”
  • Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”
  • Ben E. King, “Stand By Me”
  • Tina Turner, “It's Gonna Work Out Fine”
  • Nina Simone, “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black”
  • Aretha Franklin, “Respect”
  • James Brown, “Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud”
  • Marvin Gaye, “What’s Goin’ On?”
  • Donny Hathaway, “Someday We’ll All Be Free”
  • Gil Scott-Heron, “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”
  • Various Artists, Power To The Motown People!: Civil Rights Anthems and Political Soul, 1968-1975Ěý(2007)
  • Martha Reeves & the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street,” “Heat Wave,” “Quicksand,” and “Nowhere to Run”;
  • Smokey Robinson & the Miracles’ “I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Going to a Go-Go,” “Abraham, Martin, and John,” “Whose Gonna Take the Blame?,” and “Tears of a Clown”;
  • Marvin Gaye’s “Can I Get a Witness?,” “I’ll Be Doggone,” “Ain’t That Peculiar?” and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”;
  • The Supremes’ “Where Did Our Love Go?,” “Stop in the Name of Love,” “Love Child,” “I’m Livin’ in Shame,” and “The Young Folks”;
  • The Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Beauty is Only Skin Deep,” and “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)”;
  • The Four Tops “It’s the Same Old Song” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.”
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What did we miss on this playlist? ĚýLet us know: thecaaas@gmail.com
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Bibliography

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Kot, Greg. (2014). I’ll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers, and the Music That Shaped the Civil Rights Era. New York: Scribner.
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Reiland Rabaka, Civil Rights Music: The Soundtracks of the Civil Rights MovementĚý(Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield,Ěý2016).
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Honkers and Shouters: The Golden Years of Rhythm & BluesĚýby Arnold Shaw
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