The famous song “Blackbird,” sung by The Beatles in 1968, discusses the challenges faced by African American women. Paul McCartney and John Lenon, the writers of the song, wrote about the civil rights struggles after learning about the race riots that were occuring in the U.S. More specifically, the adversity students overcame going to an all-white school. McCartney wanted to write an empowering song that reached people that were affected by the Alabama and Mississippi riots. He hoped it would provide hope in a dark time. Blackbird is a symbol of African Americans who were discriminated against, more specifically African American women. With repetition of “Blackbird singing in the dead of night,” McCartney exemplifies how despite the adversity African Americans continued to fight for their freedom by fighting for equality in school. This song stood and continues to be an empowerment song for people everywhere, urging them to still fight for what they believe in. McCartney wanted to encourage African American women to “fly into the light of a dark black night,” and continue to work towards equality. McCartney wanted to ensure that their voices or the signing of the blackbird was not going unheard, reassuring what they were saying and doing was making an impact not only in the US but across the world. Today this song still reigns true as the fight for equality still remains.
