Blackbird

The song Blackbird by the Beatles was written by Paul McCartney in response to the Civil Rights Movement taking place in the United States. After reading about the race riots and shortly after the racial desegregation of Little Rock High School in 1957, McCartney came up with the metaphor for the song. McCartney stated that, “We were totally immersed in the whole saga which was unfolding. So I got the idea of using a blackbird as a symbol for a black person. It wasn't necessarily a black 'bird', but it works that way, as much as then you called girls ‘birds’…'Take these broken wings' was very much in my mind, but it wasn't exactly an ornithological ditty; it was purposely symbolic."

This book juxtaposes The Beatles’ lyrics with photographs of momentous events during the Civil Rights Movement. Starting with the lynching of Jesse Washington up to the passing of the Voting Rights Act, the lyrics illustrate the historic events taking place during this tumultuous time.