The author Rosemarie Freeney Harding talks about how singing
and music enabled strength in many throughout tough times in civil rights movements
in Southern communities. Ms. Harding recalls how Bernice Johnson Reagon
influenced many to unite through their voices with freedom songs and how great
of an impact was felt in the atmosphere that gave marchers the strength and
courage to walk without any fear of police and demonstrators. She also
discusses how Ruby Sales, a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee member in
Alabama, relied on the courage enabled through these freedom songs to get her
past the moments of deepest terror and how Ms. Sales was able to become part of
a community through it.
In my opinion, this short passage of freedom songs relates
mostly to involvement and impact than any of the other first-year expectation
topics. Yes, there is a connection to how Ms. Sales and Ms. Reagon used their
courage to fulfill a community commitment. And yes, both Ms. Sales and Ms.
Reagon had meaningful connections with others that relate to first-year
expectations of support. But I find most interesting that Ms. Harding
highlights both of these women as having a direct involvement and impact in
their community.
As RA’s, I believe it’s our duty to help our residents find
their own “freedom songs”: something with which enables them to unite with an organization
or group (campus wide and beyond), so they too can make a significant contribution
for the welfare of that community.
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