The 1960s were a turbulent decade in terms of political and racial tensions. At a crucial time for the civil rights movement, African Americans were beginning to become more integrated into society, gaining more rights through the implementation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the right to vote through Voting Rights Act of 1965 and equal housing opportunity through the Civil Rights Act of 1965. The Civil Rights Act of 1968. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. successfully led many non-protests violent from the beginning of the movement, but as African Americans felt frustrated by the little 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 was being made and that radical efforts must be made. Both of their movements were counter-hegemonic, fighting against 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 ideas of negotiation and moved toward isolation. African Americans fought for high taxes, more government regulation, affirmative action, and focused more on racial and 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 “pampered” the poor and minority groups. These conservative populists eventually brought to power President Richard Nixon, who favored the middle class by cutting taxes, thereby cutting social programs and worsening minority housing. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Despite government control in the hands of white supremacists and the upper middle class, African Americans still enjoyed more rights and privileges than before. All of these laws are a big step in the right direction toward creating a more equal America; however, the shift from civil rights to Black Power, alongside the anti-Vietnam War movement, created a chasm in the fight against the hegemonic ideology of white supremacy. The clash of races and foreign relations created a violent climate that was reflected in the continuing conflict between Malcolm tensions between blacks and whites, now abroad. The result of the civil rights movement produced a slightly equivalent society with more opportunities for the black community, but on the other hand, it failed to solve all of the perpetual societal and economic problems facing African-Americans. Americans are faced with war, housing and war. poverty. Music is a rich indicator of the political, social and religious climates of a given period. It reflects dominant and subordinate ideologies and, in the case of the 1960s, it reflects the radical diversity of political and racial views in the country. As testaments 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 renderedpopular at a time when there were not yet many Africans. -Americans thought they had the same level of equality. Heron and Simone's songs' divergent perspectives on the outcome of the civil rights movement reflect the conflicting division of ideologies between peaceful protest and the Black Power movement to overturn the subordination of the black community. Gil Scott-Heron's 1970 song "Whitey on the Moon" depicts a bleak view of the results of the civil rights movement and focuses on the contradiction that white supremacy still holds the upper hand in racial and political conflicts black communities. economic issues. This global vision of the movement for equality is reflected 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 spoken word, making his words (rather than the music) more stated and meaningful; as a political statement rather than a song. The passion of Heron's feelings is heard through the anger, rage, and disappointment in his voice, as he seems tired of the obstacles he must overcome because of the color of his skin. Likewise, the lack of instruments in the background music highlights how little effort it makes to glorify the black condition. As Malcolm Lyrically, Heron's repeated use of the word "white" parallels a white man's use of the word "nigger", both in its derogatory nature and its synonymous use of hateful slurs. A counter-hegemonic blow against both supporters of the civil rights movement and the white community, it highlights how African Americans suffer at the hands of white individuals, not only in America, but also abroad in war, influenced by historical exploitations such as slavery and de jure segregation. An ancient form of rap, derived from the counter-hegemonic nature of hip-hop, his song embodies Heron's fight to challenge society. It highlights a very important contradiction in which white individuals exceed 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 muster the basic necessities to stay alive, such as food. , housing, and medical care, as he claims: "I can't pay doctor bills/But Whitey's on the moon" (lines 5-6). His claims highlight the failure of the civil rights movement to make black people more equal members of society. The role of African Americans in the military shows this: although they are legally equal, they are socially unequal: they are put on the front lines to be killed first and do not have many opportunities to succeed in the military. life. In contrast, Nina Simone's 1970 counter-hegemonic song, "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" celebrates the black community and all the obstacles they overcame to achieve the level of opportunity and equality . Unlike Heron's song, which has few musical elements, Simone's jazz song is accompanied by background singers and four instruments in her song, showing the unity and strength of her voice and purpose. The pace of his song is slow, deep and directed, much like an anthem or motivational speech, especially when he sings the lines "To be young, gifted and black/Iswhere it's at" (Lines 21-22) . “Young, gifted and black” are pronounced and associated..