Hebrew: We Shall Overcome

Authors

Charles Albert Tindley
Irv Epstein, Illinois Wesleyan University

Files

Description

Based upon the refrain that slaves sang in the field, “I’ll be all right someday,” Reverend Charles Albert Tindley published ”I’ll Overcome Someday” in 1901. In 1945, workers striking against the American Tobacco Company sang ”We will overcome, and we will win our rights someday.”

The song was brought to the Highlander Folk Center where it was used in workshops where civil rights activists congregated. Later, the Highlander musical director, Zilphia Horton, introduced the song to Pete Seeger who adapted it to its current form.

But it was Guy Caroway, who succeeded Horton as Highlander Folk Center musical director, who led an audience singing “We Shall Overcome” at the founding convention of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee

Geographical region for language spoken

Israel

Disciplines

Jewish Studies | Language Interpretation and Translation

Comments

Read/sung by Irv Epstein, Ben and Susan Rhodes Endowed Professor in Peace and Justice, Illinois Wesleyan University

Recommended Citation

Tindley, Charles Albert and Epstein, Irv, "Hebrew: We Shall Overcome" (1901). IWU Global Storytelling Project. 2.
https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/globalstorytelling/2

Version

Reverend Charles Albert Tindley published ”I’ll Overcome Someday” in 1901.