The song premiered in 1962, a pivotal time for the Civil Rights Movement. This was just after the Civil Rights Act of 1960, and the American citizens could feel change coming. Between the Freedom Riders and the various riots throughout the country, the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. Bob Dylan was at the very beginning of his career, not yet the cultural icon he is today, and the song was not even released on an album. Dylan performed the song on a radio show and attracted a considerable amount of callers for his controversial rendition. Although it did not spread until 1972 when the live recording was published on the album Broadside Ballads, Vol. 6: Broadside Reunion under the name "Blind Boy Grunt", Dylan knew that this was the time to gain equality and fight for what is right. He wanted to push the American people into action by reminding them of the tragic death of Emmett Till, an event that jump-started the entire movement seven years before. The song is incredibly powerful today, as it reminds us of the horrific events of the past, but in 1962 the impact was even greater as people directly connected with the event.
-Sammy Turk Tolub
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ReplyDeleteI thought you did a very thorough job of explaining the Kairos in Bob Dylan's song, "The Death of Emmett Till." I think it would have also been interesting if you incorporated the different time period in Chicago, where Emmett Till was from, and Mississippi, where he was brutally murdered in your analysis.
ReplyDeleteI think this post also highlights how important media is when concerning civil movements and movements in general. It's interesting to note the difference that just a few years made on the awareness to this song. From being performed on the radio to the mass awareness garnered from its release on an album.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated the insight you provided about where Dylan was in his career when this song was written. Had you not included that I would have assumed that he and the size following and recognition that he does today. This shows that Dylan's purpose for writing the song was not the come off as any certain way to his fan base but rather just to do what he thought was right through his own personal method of expression.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very accurate assessment of kairos. A song written about Emmett Till today would probably not get much attention, and even if it did it would not go down in history as a credible outlet of emotion. Dylan's song, which was written and produced during the time when the event was relevant, is quite literally being used a source here because of it was created during this time period.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how valuable timing is, given a different moment the song wouldn't have been understood by the public. The fact that Dylan released the song on a radio show and didn't wait to set up an album demonstrates just how much raw emotion was put into the piece, he desperately wanted to raise awareness and share his opinion with America.
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