Preview

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free By Nina Simone

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
360 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free By Nina Simone
The song “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free,” sung by Nina Simone, has a Civil Rights Movement message and purpose. Of course, it is about the freedom and rights that the African Americans were fighting for in this time. The overall theme of the song is about the overwhelming need to be free that was felt by many people during the Civil Rights Movement. This is shown in the lines “I wish I could break/All the chains holding me.” The lyrics of the song have a serious tone to them. The tone conveys the message that the African Americans in the Movement were determined in getting their rights so that they could feel the freedom that the whites had. Overall, the message of this song is that everyone deserves to feel free.
The song very
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Josephine Baker Letter From Birmingham Jail
    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Josephine Baker Letter From Birmingham Jail

    To start with , some citizen believe that everybody should have freedom to get came vip right. For example Josephine argues in line 50-51 " I didn't have to do that i wish i could go into any restaurant i wanted to and i didn't have ". This show that not all have freedom and they want freedom with non-violence. For instance Baker claim in line 12-14 " i want you to have a chance at what i had but i do not want you to have to run away from freedom. This demonstrates that although some nations believe that is normal to mistreat African…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of The Poem Harlem
    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page

    Summary Of The Poem Harlem

    This poem expresses the general emotion of African Americans during the early 1900's. America has known as the land of opportunity, where dreams come true. However, for African Americans during this time, this was not the case. While technically free, racism, poverty, and social injustices abound, making it difficult if not impossible to actually achieve these dreams...thus, their dreams have been "deferred". This poem addresses that frustration, and ponders possible reactions from having your opportunities robbed. Do you give up? Do you become angry? Do you become complacent? To me, the last line is very powerful, because it refers to the fact that people can only be held down so long before they revolt, or "explode". In the Poem Harlem by…

    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Angel's Work
    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Angel's Work

    The emotions that I felt from the song was this is a reflection on time, slavery and all the things associated with them.…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Disparity In Tupac Shakur's Melody 'Changes'
    • 234 Words
    • 1 Page

    Disparity In Tupac Shakur's Melody 'Changes'

    All through the tune he discusses the battle of being African American living in neediness. He discusses the sadness numerous African Americans individuals living in awful conditions that prompt franticness, paying little respect to ethics. A piece of the tune that says, "I'm sick of bein' poor and far and away more terrible I'm dark.…

    • 234 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Nancy's Myth Interruption Essay
    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Nancy's Myth Interruption Essay

    “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last,” are not only the words spoken by a legend deemed one of the most effective leaders in the history of civil rights , but are the words that were spoken during an evil time in American history in an attempt to bring to attention the consequences of which the nation suffered (King 34) It was at this time in history that world renowned activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historical “I Have a Dream” speech detailing the idea that our society was being driven by the mindset “us” vs “them” establishing the “communities and enemies” concept that is continuously discussed today. Before Gloria Naylor wrote The Women of Brewster Place or Jean-Luc Nancy even began to compose…

    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Sister Flowers by Maya Angelou
    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Sister Flowers by Maya Angelou

    “Then I met, or rather got to know, the lady who threw me my first life line.”…

    • 417 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    I Wanted To Share My Father's World By Jimmy Carter
    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages

    I Wanted To Share My Father's World By Jimmy Carter

    I Wanted to Share My Father’s World, written by James Earl Carter who was mainly known as Jimmy Carter, born in a small town in Plains, Georgia in 1924. Jimmy Carter, the only Georgian elected president of the United States, held the office for one term in 1977-81.His previous public service included a stint in the U.S Navy, two senate terms in the Georgia General Assembly, and one as governor of Georgia (1971-75). In his post presidential careers, Carter wrote numerous books, including one whom he wrote with his wife, Rosalynn, and a children’s book (illustrated by his daughter, Amy).…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    How Did Jim Crow Rule
    • 1483 Words
    • 6 Pages

    How Did Jim Crow Rule

    In this song, Robeson voices how America restricts black people from their rights with laws separating them from white people. When Robeson performed at a concert in New York for the Civil Rights Congress, “hundreds of protestors stormed the stage, pelted the musicians with rocks or slammed them with chairs, and burned the ‘Dirty Commie’ song sheets. Police did little to intervene, but Robeson vowed to return the following week”. Even though he had gotten a negative reaction from the crowd during his performance, Robeson continued to protest against segregation laws through his music. Another song that protested against these policies was “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday.…

    • 1483 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    How Does Music Affect The Civil Rights Movement?
    • 2749 Words
    • 11 Pages

    How Does Music Affect The Civil Rights Movement?

    The Freedom Singers songs conveyed such powerful messages of freedom and change they became the anthems of the Civil Rights Movement, their songs influenced the the African-American community to stand up for what they believe in, never to break under pressure, and if necessary fight for freedom. (Rose, 2007). In a 2013 public service announcement, Freedom Singer Rutha Mae Harris, talked about music's effects on the African-American community during the Civil Rights Movement. “ Most of the songs from the movement were taken from spirituals, gospels, rhythm and blues. Whenever there was a march to be taken place, there were songs that we would use to motivate the people to get into line, we were organized to tell the story of the struggle.…

    • 2749 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Frederick Douglass Response To Freedom
    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Frederick Douglass Response To Freedom

    The song “Freedom” by SayReal a young talented band converts Frederick Douglass words to lyrics, music, and a video. Frederick Douglass was a 19th century freedom fighter whose inspiration, words, and ideas make up the actual words of the song; it was published April 28th, 2016 (my birthday) by Richard Fink. “Frederick’s song (Freedom)” is based on the life and teachings of abolitionist and civil rights. It is all about tolerance and fighting for the cultural, political, financial and social freedoms for everyone. Yet ironically, we became the victims of the very persecution we were fighting against. In addition, I believe the speaker is appealing to those individuals who care about peace, love, and respect because in the song they’re attempting to give one another the freedom to be who we are. It is about uniting not dividing. A few lyrics from the actual song are “Give me my freedom,” “I’ll fight for your freedom,” and “we must fight for freedom”.…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Holding Out For A Hero By Bonnie Tyler
    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Holding Out For A Hero By Bonnie Tyler

    At the mentioning of a hero, the majority of the time, the image that appears in people’s minds are usually male. A hero, according to the online definition, is: “a person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for his courage outstanding achievements, or noble qualities”. As seen in the song, “Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler, she is seeking a man of the hour to save her from despair. Through the lyrics, the female gender is being oppressed by the image of a hero being male. By scanning briefly through the song, we can identify the lack of feminine figures through the various the significant individuals mentioned from mythology, comics, and fairy tales.…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary: The Civil Rights Movement
    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Summary: The Civil Rights Movement

    This connects to Unit 7 in our history notebook, where we learned about The Civil Rights Movement and the different groups of people that took part in it. This song is referring to the movement Dr. Luther King…

    • 554 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    American Dream in the 1960s
    • 1732 Words
    • 5 Pages

    American Dream in the 1960s

    Culture in the 1960s represented how freedom, peace, and happiness all started to expand. Various songs were written and played that showed the image of being happy and free. “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” written by George Huff portrays how simple life should be and that you should express the joy and happiness you come by in life. “Let it Be,” by the Beatles shows how to just let stuff go in life. In the 1960s, the American people did not let the little things get to them and interrupt their path to happiness and success. They just “Let it Be.” The song “We Shall Overcome” by Charles Tindsley gives an example of how African American and people of different races and minorities wanted to be treated. The lyrics “We shall all be free someday” (Tindsley) proved that freedom wanted to be obtained. They did not want to be treated unfairly anymore. Equality is all that was desired. “We'll walk hand in hand some day,” shows how once African Americans obtained freedom, they achieved happiness. They ultimately did this through the Civil Rights Movement.…

    • 1732 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    1960's: The Civil Rights Movement
    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages

    1960's: The Civil Rights Movement

    This song restored the hope of millions people to see their dreams as well as convincingthem to fight against the inequality, injustice. He said "Brothers we can’t quit until we get ourshare". In this song he encouraged them, and show them their rights are at the same as one ofanimal and they are viewed as birds and bees: they are working hard like a bee who collects thehoney all day. And in the end, someone else takes the honey. The lyrics of the song demand fora big change and as the song title says that say it loud I am a black and am proud to say it.…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Lamar Influence The World
    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Does Lamar Influence The World

    The song unapologetically attacks racism and the corrupt oppressive system in the United States. The song has been a major influence in the black lives matter movement that has been occurring the past couple of years. Since this song came out in 2015 a greater amount of celebrities have been willing to speak out to the public about the black lives matter movement. This would be an example of a positive change that has happened since the song came out, but it hasn’t all been good. Huffington post says that about “258 black people were killed by police in 2015 alone”.(Craven)…

    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics