From Freedom to Formation: 5 Songs That Carried the Message

Nina Simone said it best: “Music is the soundtrack of resistance, and in the hands of Black artists, every note tells a story of survival, hope, and triumph.”

Black Music Month, founded in 1979, is an opportunity to celebrate more than just the artists and songs that shaped our culture. It is a chance to recognize how Black music has preserved history, inspired generations, and honored the influences and contributions of Black musicians across the music landscape.

Across centuries, music has served as a tool for communication, resistance, healing, and pride. These five songs reveal how the message evolved while the purpose remained remarkably consistent.

Song #1: ‘Go Down Moses’ — The Signal of Freedom

Go Down Moses was a spiritual often used by Harriet Tubman on the Underground Railroad. While the song told the biblical story of Moses demanding freedom for the Israelites, Harriet Tubman used the song to signal on the Underground Railroad, alerting others of her presence to those who were ready to flee to freedom. To some, it was a spiritual. To others, it was a signal that freedom might be within reach.

Song #2: ‘Strange Fruit’ — The Song That Forced America to Listen

Originally a poem written by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish writer and activist, called Bitter Fruit from New York after seeing a photograph of the 1930 lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abraham Smith in Indiana. He later set the poem to music and changed its title to “Strange Fruit.”

Billie Holiday first performed the song in 1939 at Café Society in New York, using her voice to challenge racial injustice and force audiences to confront realities many preferred to ignore. She shocked the audience by performing the song, but she knew that America could not hide from the truth. “Strange Fruit” marked a turning point. Black music no longer needed to whisper.

Song #3: ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ — Hope in the Face of Struggle

By the early 1960s, Black music was not only exposing injustice but also inspiring hope. Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” was written during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and reflected both personal experiences with discrimination and the broader struggle for equality. Sam recorded the song in January 1964, but sadly, he passed away that year. The song was shortly released after his death. A Change Is Gonna Come became a symbol of hope during the Civil Rights Movement. It became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. And still remains a symbol of hope to this present day.

Sam Cooke said it best: “It’s been a long, a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come…”

Song #4: ‘Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)’ — Speaking Truth to Power

Released in 1971, Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” voiced the frustrations of Black Americans in urban settings even after the Civil Rights Movement. Marvin highlighted ongoing injustices with lines like: “Makes me wanna holler, throw up both my hands.” He gave a voice to the voiceless, and the song remains a powerful protest today.

Song #5: ‘Formation’ — Pride, Identity, and Reclamation

Released in 2016, ‘Formation’ emerged as discussions on race, police violence, representation, and Black identity intensified. Through her lyrics and performances, Beyoncé highlighted the power of Black culture and honored those before her. ‘Formation’ affirms that Black music remains a platform for storytelling and social commentary, amplifying daily challenges while celebrating cultural pride.

The Power of Black Music

Looking at these five songs together, Black music has never stood still. “Go Down Moses” carried the hope of freedom. “Strange Fruit” forced America to face an ugly truth. “A Change Is Gonna Come” offered hope during the Civil Rights Movement. Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues” captured ongoing frustrations, and Beyoncé’s “Formation” celebrates a culture that shapes the world.

Different eras. Different sounds. Different messages. Yet each song reflects a moment in history and a community determined to be heard. That’s part of what makes Black music so powerful. It doesn’t just tell us what people were listening to; it tells us what they were living through.

The soundtrack continues. This Black Music Month, revisit the songs that have shaped our history and consider the messages they carried. What song would you add to the conversation, and what story does it tell?