Thank you to harvardsquarelibrary.org for the image

Pete Seeger: A Person of Faith

Though the name of Pete Seeger may not always come to mind when the subject of faith, or trust in the people around you, is brought up, when examined closer, it is clear that Pete lived a life dedicated to forging bonds between people of all races and economic classes; he had a vision of a better and more equallity-minded tomorrow, and he worked to bring about that vision through music.

Seeger was born in Patterson, New York, in 1919. When examining his childhood, it is no suprise that he wanted spread his message through music, seeing as his father was a musicologist at Juliard and his mother was a concert violinist. He inherited his staunch political stance and liberal ideals from his father, who, before Pete was born, was fired from his job at University of California (Berkley) because of his pacifist methods. He found his calling in 1936 when he became hooked on folk music and the 5-string banjo after attending a North Carolina folk festival. He cited the words as the most engaging part of the songs: "I liked the words...they seemed frank, straightforward, and honest."

After leaving Harvard in 1939 after two years, he started working at the Archives of American Music, in New York City. He became immersed in the early labor and protest songs by Leadbelly and Aunt Molly Jackson. His first social reform project came took place when he organized concerts and rallies for the New York Milk Strike, a campaign by the Dairy Farmer's Union. After meeting Woody Guthrie, the most prominent and influential folk singer of the time, he spent the next few years with their group The Almanacs, touring the country and recording labor-themed songs. Though Seeger had many complaints about the way the government was run, he did not hesitate to serve his country when he was drafted in 1942. His dutiful term in the Pacific is another an example of his faith-though he had his share of grievences, he put those behind him and served his term.

Upon returning from the Pacific, he was marriend and joined the Communist party. Joining the Communist party during the heat of McCarthyism was a potentially very dangerous move for Seeger; the resultant blacklisting of him hurt his career, because many radio stations stopped playing his music. In 1955, arguably the most intense and potentially devastating part of his life came about when he was questioned and put on trial by the House of un-American Activities Committee regarding his supposed links with illegal communists. When asked to give up the names of members of all his previous left wing groups, citing the freedom of speech in the First Ammendment as his protection. Though he wasn't sentenced until 1961, Seeger faced ten years in prison, all because he believed in the friendship bonds of faith and refused to give up the names of his friends. Though the case was soon dismissed on a technicality, Seeger was nonetheless incredibly brave for his refusal to the HUAC. Not only was Seeger committed to social justice, he was also a dedicated environmentalist. In 1965, disgusted with the poor state of the Hudson River, he launched the Clearwater Organization, which, still in existence today, has made tremendous progress in cleaning up the Hudson. He is still alive today, giving occasional performances but spending most of his time with his wife, Toshi Ohta, in their cabin in upstate New York.


Thanks to Spartacus Schoolnet for the image.






SOURCES
Blair, Thomas. "Pete Seeger: Folk Singer and Songwriter." www.harvardsquarelibrary.org 27 Oct. 2005
Encyclopedia of the American Left, www.writing.upenn.edu
The Mudcat Cafe, www.mudcat.org
Wikipedia, wikipedia.org
Spartacus Schoolnet, www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk


For additional reading, check out David King Dunaway's book How Can I Keep From Singing: Pete Seeger.





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