The 1960s were a turbulent decade in the realm of political and racial tensions. At a pivotal time in the civil rights movement, African Americans were beginning to integrate more into society, receiving greater rights with the implementation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the right to vote through the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and equal opportunities housing through the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led many successful nonviolent protests since the movement's inception, but as African Americans became frustrated with the limited results their actions produced, they were taken under the wing of Malcolm X, who believed that violence was the solution to change. King optimistically believed in inevitable, gradual change, while Malcolm X believed that no progress had been made and that radical efforts had to be made. Both of their movements were counter-hegemonic, combating the ruling classes' belief in white supremacy; however, their differences were reflected in their methods of fighting against the dominant culture. After King's assassination in 1968, the movement rejected the ideas of negotiation and moved toward isolation. African Americans fought for high taxes, increased government regulation, affirmative action, and focused more on racial-economic issues such as schools, housing, and police brutality that affected the individual. These programs contrasted with the beliefs of the “silent majority,” who embraced conservative populism and believed that government intervention “coddled” the poor and minority groups. These conservative populists eventually brought President Richard Nixon to power, who favored the middle class by reducing taxes, thereby reducing welfare programs and worsening minority housing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Despite control of the government at the hands of white supremacists and the upper class, African Americans still had more rights and privileges than before. All of these legal enactments represented a great step in the right direction toward creating a more equitable America; However, the shift from civil rights to Black Power, parallel to the anti-Vietnam War movement, created a chasm in the fight against the hegemonic ideology of white supremacy. Racial conflict and foreign relations created a violent climate that was reflected in the ongoing conflict between Malcolm abroad. The result of the civil rights movement produced a slightly equivalent society with greater opportunities for the black community, but, on the other hand, failed to address all of the perpetual social and economic issues that African Americans faced with the war , housing and poverty. poverty. Music is a rich indicator of the political, social and religious climate over a period of time. It reflects dominant and subordinate ideologies and, in the case of the 1960s, reflected the radical variety of political and racial views in the country. As a testament to the diversity of reactions to the civil rights movement, Gil Scott-Heron's 1970 song "Whitey on the Moon" and Nina Simone's 1969 song "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" were popularized in a time when not all African -Americans believed they had the same level of equality. Heron and Simone's songs' divergent perspectives on the outcome of the civil rights movement mirror theconflicting division of ideologies between peaceful protest and the Black Power movement in order to restore the subordination of the black community. Gil Scott-Heron's song “Whitey on the Moon,” released in 1970, portrays a bleak vision of the outcome of the civil rights movement and focuses on the contradiction of how white supremacy still has the upper hand in the racial and social situation of black communities. economic issues.This overall vision of the equality movement is shown in the formal elements of the song. Considered a rap pioneer in his genre of R&B/Soul music, Heron's song style aligns with the lyrics, making his words, rather than the music, more pronounced and meaningful; as a political statement, rather than a song. The passion of Heron's feelings can be heard through the anger, rage, and disappointment in his voice, as he seems tired of the obstacles he has to overcome because of the color of his skin. Likewise, the lack of instruments in the background music emphasizes how little effort it puts into glorifying the plight of blacks. Since Malcolm Lyrically, Heron's repeated use of the word "white" parallels a white man's use of the term "nigger", both in its derogatory nature and its synonymous use in hateful slurs . A counter-hegemonic blow to both the pursuers of the civil rights movement and the white community, highlighting how African Americans are suffering at the hands of white individuals, not only in America, but also abroad at war, influenced by historical exploitations such as slavery and de jure segregation. One of the earliest forms of rap, stemming from the counterhegemonic nature of hip-hop, his song embodies Heron's struggle to challenge society. He highlights a very important contradiction in which white individuals are overcoming the demands of a rudimentary life with advanced technology to send a space shuttle to the moon, while African American individuals are not even able to gather the basic necessities to survive, like food. , housing, and medical care, as he states, “I can't pay the doctor's bills / But Whitey's on the moon” (lines 5-6). His statements highlight the failure of the purpose of the civil rights movement, which was to make blacks more equal members of society. Demonstrated by the role of African Americans in the military, although they are legally equal, they are socially unequal: put on the front lines to be killed first and not given many opportunities to succeed in life. In contrast, Nina Simone's counterhegemonic 1970 song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black” celebrates the black community and all the obstacles they have overcome to reach the level of opportunity and equality. Unlike Heron's song, which has few musical elements, Simone's jazz song has an accompaniment of background singers and four instruments in her song, showing unity and strength in her voice and purpose. The tempo of his song is slow, deep and direct, much like an anthem or a motivational speech, especially when he sings the lines "Being young, gifted and black/Is where it's at" (lines 21-22). “Young, gifted and black” is pronounced and paired with a beat so that the song's central message is evident to its audience. His song is similar in creed and tone to "We Shall Overcome," the civil rights movement phrase and song made famous by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as it references the past but focuses on power of progress. He reflects..