Consider This from NPR The songs that define America
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Jul 4, 2025 This discussion explores how music shapes American identity, especially around Independence Day. It highlights the evolution of 'This Little Light of Mine' into a civil rights anthem. The emotional power of songs like 'Fanfare for the Common Man' and Bob Dylan's 'The Times They Are a-Changin'' is examined, revealing their role in promoting unity during challenging times. A young choir's journey to perform at the March for Our Lives illustrates the timeless importance of protest anthems and their ability to inspire hope across generations.
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This Little Light of Mine's Power
- Betty Mae Fikes transformed the innocent children's song This Little Light of Mine into a defiant civil rights anthem in 1963.
- She improvised lyrics after friends were attacked, including oppressors like Jim Clark and the KKK to empower the movement.
Freedom Songs Are Anointed
- Civil rights survivors call freedom songs 'anointed' and sing them for courage and protection.
- This spiritual quality explains the enduring power of This Little Light of Mine over decades.
Fanfare for the Common Man
- Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man is celebrated for its heroic and uplifting spirit.
- It channels hope and goodness, capturing the American dream of peace and prosperity.