Week 3: Planning for a conversation

Ms. Goldfarb was kind enough to put me in touch with a scholar of American protest music named Pat Thomas! We have been exchanging emails and will be talking this week. I am excited to hear what he has to say.

I am planning to ask him about his opinion on the significance of protest music during America’s past, present, and future. I am also curious about any recommendations for anti-Vietnam War protest musicians that he might have. 

If you are interested in his work, please refer to these links he sent me:

http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2017/09/book_notes_pat.html

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5tmRRfliJcZtWlUqyUwTOV

https://aquariumdrunkard.com/2018/07/16/jerry-rubin-from-yippie-to-yuppie/

https://rockandrollglobe.com/rock/an-exclusive-chat-with-author-pat-thomas-on-the-stiff-history-between-john-lennon-and-jerry-rubin/

https://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2012/03/seize-the-time-pat-thomas-black-power-and-listen-whitey.html

https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2016/05/poetry-proto-rap-and-soul-the-sounds-of-the-black-power-revolution

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/poetry-proto-rap-soul-sounds/pl.9ed88ed672124718a6c58b5297dfb3fb?app=music&fbclid=IwAR3Htq8wPuJ1g2H2UdaLU07O8cP-xNZgBbTOiIWF6b6mGor_aXqAOsJurKQ&mt=1

In addition to the music and protests of the Vietnam War, Pat has also written about the Black Power movement. Although the war is the focus of my project, I hope to discuss the role of protest music in the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements with him as well. Anti-racism and anti-Vietnam War protests occurred at the same time, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that there were connections between them. I have come across evidence for this connection, but I would like to hear Pat’s take before concluding anything. For instance, Phil Ochs, Judy Collins, and Pete Seeger participated in the Mississippi Freedom Drive, a June 1964 voter registration drive through the South. Nina Simone released renditions of various political ballads such as Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’” and Seeger’s “Turn, Turn, Turn,” as well, and Sam Cooke reportedly displayed an interest in Dylan’s songwriting. 

Check back soon to hear about our conversation!