Songs from the Civil Rights Era

Set against a backdrop of riots, marches, and martyrs, the music coming out during the Civil Rights Movement was riveting, filled with joy, anger, pride, and a vision of better days. This is the sound of that era, 1954–1968, songs that were in your face (“Say It Loud — I'm Black and I'm Proud”), sweetly metaphoric (“People Get Ready”), joyous (Etta James' “At Last”), and celebratory (“Dancing in the Street”).