
African American folk music inspires all current music we hear today. It plays a crucial role in cultural expression, storytelling, and spiritual connection. Folk music was an important part of the Civil Rights Movement. It was used to motivate, provide psychological strength, and pass time.
Folk music originated from the expression of black folk through the trials and tribulations they faced during slavery. This music declares their battle cry, weariness, and resilience through the extremely unjust behavior they were faced with throughout history. For African Americans, folk music reflects a rich history and heritage that has influences from African rhythms as well as instruments.Folk music is also known for storytelling of experiences and the emotions felt in those moments. Songs like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, composed by Wallis Willis, and “Deep Down in my Heart” are songs that were sung during slavery about the struggle for freedom. These songs have deep spiritual meaning and importance. They are songs of hope and freedom by those longing for a better life even through death to get out of slavery. The tone of “Swing low, sweet chariot” can be heard as melancholic and painful to convey the longing and yearning of those who suffered against slavery.
Typical instruments for folk music include: voice, acoustic guitar, flute, whistle, accordion, melodeon, mandolin, harmonica, and tenor banjo. Many of the instruments historically used in African American music like the banjo and drum, are precursors of African musical instruments. Famous folk music singers were Odetta who has been called the queen of American folk music by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Richie Havens who used soul, folk, and rhythm and blues to create beautiful and powerful music, and Elizabeth Cotton who is best known for her time timelesss song “Freight Train”.
Folk music expresses the pain and sorrows of everyday life, but on the brighter side also unity, rejoicing, and happiness. Music was a comfort, a community strengthener, and built moral by giving a voice for hope during and after enslavement.

