Past Event

Oh Freedom! Songs of the Civil Rights Movement

A Road Scholar Program by Chris Vallillo

protestors singing "This Little Light of Mine"
protestors singing “This Little Light of Mine”

The Civil Rights Movement has been described as one of the greatest singing movements that this country has experienced.  From “We Shall Overcome” to “This Little Light of Mine,” music played a vital role in as an inspirational rallying point and as a way to spread the message of equality and justice.

From the Freedom Riders to the jails of Montgomery Alabama and Parchman Prison all the way to Washington, DC, old and new songs of the era spoke of the yearning for equal rights: the struggle and the determination to win freedom.  Music engaged and energized the movement locally and nationally, becoming the backbone of the nonviolent civil disobedience movement led by Dr King and others.

In a show created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement, award winning Illinois folksinger Chris Vallillo performs pivotal songs from the music that inspired and sustained this landmark movement.  Intermixed with the music, Vallillo presents first-hand accounts of the historic struggle and discusses the impact of music to one of our nation’s most important social causes.

This event is Free and Open to the public. For more information, please contact Keith Housewright at librarian@carlylelake.com.

Case-Halstead Public Library COVID-19 Policy

All applicable local and community standards will be met or exceeded with respect to the Covid-19 virus and precautions.

Learn more about Chris Vallillo, this program, and how to book it.