In the early 1960s, liberation for public opinion, binds of racism, dance, and in great regard music emerged and became the theme of the decade preceding the year. This characterized the emergence of one of the greatest musical sensations that made it their business to write, compose, and sing songs that would bring about liberation and talk of real life situations. It is in the liberation process that a great artist in the name of Bob Dylan came into light. Though he was not born an idol as was the likes of Michael Jackson and Britney Spears, Bob Dylan made an impact that cannot be written off. Dylan’s legacy resulted from his surroundings, in which his childhood was marred with numerous historical events such as President Kennedy’s assassination, The World Wars, and civil rights movements.
Born in Duluth, Minnesota on 24th May 1941 as Robert Allen Zimmerman, Bob Dylan had shown immense talent in his early childhood age where he composed poetry and showed great love for rock- n- roll music. His inspiration for singing emerged from the likes of Elvis Presley who was one of the greatest of his time. March of 1962 was when Bob Dylan actually came into the limelight when he launched his very first album known as Bob Dylan with Columbia Records where he went on to release his second album in the preceding year of 1963 known as The Freewheelin. In these two albums, Bob Dylan expressed his frustrations towards those leaders who were enemies of change. This was his show of support for a movement that was opposing the oppression of the people by those in power.
Suze Rotolo, who was Bob Dylan’s girlfriend was a staunch follower of the C.O.R.E expounded as the (Congress of Racial Equality), a movement that was involved in civil rights duties. In her capacity, she asked Bob Dylan to write a song that symbolized civil rights for the movement. Bob Dylan honored her request and released the first song that was titled ‘The Death of Emmett Till.’ The song became famous among rock-n-roll lovers and music lovers in general as it talked about a 15 years black boy who was brutally murdered in 1955 because he was seen whistling to a white girl. The highlight of the song was in the lyrics that stated:
“Twas down in Mississippi
Not so long ago
When a young boy from Chicago Town
Walk in a southern door
This boy's fateful tragedy
We should all remember well
The color of his skin was black
And his name was Emmett Till.”
This was during the era in which racism had taken center stage in the United States of America and most parts of Europe. This was also during the era in which there was an uprising against the oppression of the black people in the United States. The song ‘The Death of Emmett Till’ is still sensational among music lovers as racism has not been fully eradicated in the United States of America to date. It is still a menace that disturbs the country to date despite the laws and civil rights movements being formed to ensure that the vice is curbed.
In my honest opinion, the song plays a central role in highlighting the plight that the ‘people of color’ were going through. It is quite evident that even today racism is still a vice that continues to be practiced. There are daily occurrences that are reported on the news that tend to surround racism. The song by Bob Dylan, “Death of Emmett Till” plays an important part in fighting racism as it addresses the vice in an open manner while giving an instance of the occurrence.
Works Cited
Heylin, Clinton. Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades. New York: Summit Books, 1991.
McKeen, William. Bob Dylan: A Bio-Bibliography. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1993.
Tanaka, T. Kyushuu. 24 March 2001. 16 January 2016 <http://orad.dent.kyushuu.ac.jp/dylan/song.html>.
