Thursday, January 19, 2012

Parchman Parodies

Many Freedom Riders were jailed and taken to Parchman Prison in Jackson, Mississippi.  The harsh conditions of the jail did not end their journey.  Here is a passage from "Sing for Freedom," The story of the Civil Rights Movement through its songs.  Edited and compiled by Guy and Candie Carawan. 

     Several parodies to familiar tunes came out of the Freedom Rides.  The following was sent by Marilyn Eisenberg, a Freedom Rider from California.
 Tune:  Yankee Doodle


Freedom Riders came to town 
Riding on the railway, 
Mississippi locked  them up 
Said you can't even use Trailways.
     Mississippi, you are wrong, 
     You've gone against the nation
     We'll keep coming big and strong
     And we'll end segregation. 


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