They couldn't stop our singing

[Hannah Bell]

TOWARD THE end of the remarkable new film, Soundtrack for a Revolution, Julian Bond summarizes the civil rights movement as "ordinary people doing extraordinary things."

A persistent danger swirls around this history--the danger that the participants will be canonized, effectively placing them beyond the reach of present generations ("They were so united, so brave...so not like us"). Soundtrack, a film that tells the story of the civil rights movement through its music, reminds us that the people who waged that struggle were just as frail, just as fearful of injury and death as you and I.

But in every meeting, on every march and even behind bars, Soundtrack shows us how the songs of the civil rights movement gave ordinary people like John Lewis, Dorothy Cotton or Charles McDew--who are among the many participants to contribute on-camera interviews--the courage, the solidarity and the confidence to do such extraordinary things.

"They can put you in jail," Lewis muses, "but they can't stop you from singing."



http://socialistworker.org/2010/02/03/they-couldnt-stop-our-singing

http://www.soundtrackforarevolutionfilm.com/Home.html

[NOLALady]

1. I was very afraid.

We were high school students when we were arrested for protesting in front of NOLA City Hall in the fall pf '63. They piled us into squad cars and sped to the juvenile lock up. But we were singing our heads off. They blasted their sirens to try and drown us out. That didn't work. We sang louder.

There were at least 6 of us in the back seat sitting on top of each other. At one point they slammed on the brakes possibly to hurt us or frighten us. We were thrown forward and as we fell we began giggling and laughing so hard that the police began to smile. After that, they slowed down and behaved more human.

[Tunkamerica]

2. great post, better ending

[Hannah Bell]

3. thanks for the history.

[NOLALady]

5. You are welcome.

I was afraid, but I felt it was necessary to stand up and be counted. We were told ahead of time that we could possibly be arrested that day. This was our second day of protest. They told the 17 year olds that they could not participate on the second day. They wanted to make sure we didn't get a record. The rest of us had a choice.

When the cops showed up, I had this vision of being attacked by dogs. I was really petrified, but we kept on singing, "Ain't gonna let nobody turn us around".

But, in all honesty, my biggest fear was my Mom. While my family supported the movement 200%, I had strict orders to not get involved with protesting. She was afraid that I would get hurt.

Local ministers bailed us out of jail and of course I was late getting home. I told my Mom that I was studying with a friend and forgot the time. She then mentioned that some high school students had been arrested that day and wondered if I knew anything about it. I lied and said No. She never said another word about it.

Silly me. All the talk at school the next day was how everyone (including my Mom) saw us on the evening news.

[Hannah Bell]

6. so did she say anything after she saw you on the news?

"Ain't gonna let nobody turn us around". i love that song, especially the version here:

http://www.emusic.com/album/Various-Artists-Lest-We-Forget-Vol-3-Sing-For-Freedom-MP3-Download/11031821.html


thank you for your service.

[NOLALady]

7. No.

Evidently she saw the newscast before I got home from school/jail. She set me up to see if I would be honest. Since I lied, she probably figured the guilt I'd feel was punishment enough. She never mentioned it again.

But, I do believe she was ambivalent about my involvement. She was OK about our Sit-Ins at the lunch counters and carrying signs in front of stores that didn't hire Blacks. We had to pass through downtown NOLA on our way home from school. So, every evening we went to a different segregated lunch counter. Everyday they refused to serve us. Sometimes the very fair skinned kids would go first. After their orders were taken, the browner kids would join them. Then of course, they would refuse to serve all of us.

I shared the stories with my Mom about the reactions of the waitresses and she really enjoyed them. But she always warned me not to get involved in action where police may be involved. I believe she was proud of my involvement, but also afraid.

Thank You for the OP. It brought back great memories.

[JohnnyLib2]

4. Thank you for sharing that.

Thousands of brave acts and then moments like that brought the changes.....

[annm4peace]

8. Your bravery continues on..

there are students all around this country that speak out and risk arrest, and get arrested, and persecuted. All working for social justice. And law-enforcement does target them.

they might be smaller groups, and you might not hear of them because coporate media won't cover them.. but they are out there.

We stand and they stand on your sholders.. we repeat the songs you sang...

We have the RNC 8.. 8 young activists had a hearing this week.

A young women sits in a jail in IA waiting for her trial

Police decend on student activists in CA..