I’ve never been afraid
when I am singing.”

—Rutha Mae Harris

As a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Freedom Singers, Rutha Mae Harris toured extensively with the group, which raised money for SNCC operations and ensured the role of music in social protest.

We started singing songs at the mass meetings. Songs of the movement gave you energy—a willingness and a wantingness to want to be free. Whenever there was a march to be taken place, there were songs that we would use to motivate the people to get in the line. One such song was “I Woke Up This Morning with My Mind Stayed on Freedom.” Most of the songs from the movement were taken from spirituals, gospel, and rhythm and blues—any type of music. Someone in the audience would start and say, “Come and go with me to that land. Come and go with me to that land.” And the rest would just repeat it.

Source: Library of Congress
www.loc.gov/exhibits/civilrights/exhibit.html#24