These songs of the civil rights era helped educate and spur social change. Nina Simone's "Mississippi Goddam" and Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" protested racial injustices. Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" and John Coltrane's "Alabama" were inspired by their experiences with racism. Spirituals like "We Shall Not Be Moved" and "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around" became anthems of the movement. James Brown's "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" empowered African Americans. These artists risked their safety to perform protest songs that united and energized civil rights activists fighting for