The ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement is a descendant of the Civil Rights Movement. Although several decades apart, both demand the social equality of African Americans. The Civil Rights Movement succeeded in some aspects, but there is obvious room for improvement. In acceptance of this fact, the Black Lives Matter movement has become more prevalent. One contributing factor to this movement's success is music. In the fight to achieve civil liberties, African Americans used music to help spread uplifting messages of peaceful change. From Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar to Sam Cooke and Bob Dylan, music has helped the rise and influence of both …show more content…
It was influential in helping the social movement achieve its goals without much violence. It also helped the campaign advocate against the injustices African Americans faced daily. That was a major accomplishment on its own because African Americans were neglected and silenced for generations. James Baldwin, one of the brilliant minds behind the Civil Rights Movement, once stated in an article published by The Progressive that, “The country is celebrating one hundred years of freedom one hundred years too early” (Baldwin). He believed that the road towards freedom was a long way from over -- and it still is. The nation still harbors negative stereotypes, discrimination, and racism. To defeat the awful challenges African Americans face, music-making will be needed. Music can help transform negative feelings created by inexcusable crimes into a positive force. It can inspire change as words of resistance and encouragement are chanted at peaceful protests led by the Black Lives Matter movement, giving voice to oppressed and unheard African Americans in their quest to defy statistics foretelling division and death and achieve equality and