I have always thought of music as a unifier. People no matter their backgrounds, like music. This photo perfectly exemplifies this. It was taken in 1963, during the heart of the civil rights movement. The most interesting part of this photo is that there are both black and white singers. I am unaware of what they or singing or where, but from studying history I can infer that they are singing songs of injustice and of change. From the somber looks on their faces I can tell what they are saying is important and needs to be heard. Music is one of the best forms of communication and was often utilized during the civil rights movement. This photo of unity through music is incredibly powerful and speaks volumes on the photographers part to capture such an important moment in history. The scariest thing about this photo is that it could have been taken today, in 2020. The black lives matter movement is incredibly powerful and there are thousands of photos of united Americans, black and white. Change was then and change is now. Music is still a conventional way to express opinions and importance of issues. In the 60’s they had James Brown singing, “Say It Loud — I’m Black And I’m Proud” and today we have rappers who speak about the importance of equality. Music will always be a timeless way to convey emotion and address intolerance.
