Black Spiritual Tradition
Labour songs using hymns as the melody is a long established practice, but in the 1930s as many of the larger unions began to desegregate, the use of spirituals as the basis of union songs began to grow widespread. Spirituals are songs that were created as ‘slave songs,’ that evolved to become Church gospels and hymns. American unionism fights for a living wage, freedom from boss’ abuse, and dignity of labour, just as Black enslaved workers fought for under slavery. The oral traditions of the labour movement are intertwined with the larger oral traditions of African-American spirituals.
We Shall Overcome - Folk School Version (1948)
“We Will Overcome” was adapted from Black spirituals, and no known author is recorded. This song is a part of a long tradition of the combination of the singing traditions of the Christian South, the Black spiritual, and labour movement. From the Church to the picket line, “We Will Overcome” is sung by workers and allies alike. “We Will Overcome” is also a rallying cry and slogan of the labour movement. The song is a palimpsest: different workers around North America have created their own verses for the song, leading to different versions of the song existing as oral tradition. The most famous recording of the song comes from famed folk singer Pete Seeger.