American Protest Songs and Their Impact on Two American Social Movements

American Protest Songs and Their Impact on Two American Social Movements

Protest songs have existed as a form of musical activity that was easily available to the general population in a variety of genres. While American protest songs were always an important part of American music history from the beginnings of the country through today, they were especially powerful during the social movements of the twentieth century. The civil rights movement and second-wave feminism, in particular, generated many stirring protest songs. In this paper, I examine a selection of the most impactful songs from a variety of genres including soul, folk, pop, and country styles and how they address the major themes within each movement. I then consider how the songs can be understood in the context of intersectionality between the two movements.
Although the term “intersectionality” only came into existence in 1989, its use sheds light on the similarities and differences between the two movements for a more meaningful portrayal of America’s past.

Mason, Sarah

Westminster Choir College of Rider University, Music, History, and Theory Department

Mirchandani, Sharon

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English

Thesis