Seeger draws on diverse kinds of music to create his songs, from African melodies to spirituals, and even takes passages from the Bible for songs such as “Turn, Turn, Turn.” His words cover many subjects from supporting labor to protesting war and advocating peace. In 1961, he was cited for and found guilty of contempt, resulting in a prison sentence which was later overturned. Instead of invoking the Fifth Amendment as many others had before him, Seeger took the unique stand of declaring that it was a violation of his First Amendment rights of free speech and associations to be asked these questions by the Committee. He was subpoenaed before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) in 1955 for those affiliations. He even took to the campaign trail in 1948 with his music, traveling with Progressive Party Presidential candidate Henry Wallace. That year he also founded The Weavers, a band which found a good deal of mainstream success until they were banned due to Seeger’s ties to the Communist Party (he was a member from 1942 – 1950). From the Highlander Folk School Collection. Martin Luther King, Pete Seeger, Charis Horton, Rosa Parks, and Ralph Abernathy at Highlander in 1957.
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