In 1964 Sam Cooke recorded a song that would become an anthem for the civil rights movement. Sam’s career was already in ascendancy when he heard Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” and was so moved by it, Sam said, “I’m going to write one of these days, too.”
Sam wrote his own civil rights anthem and released it in December 1964, while working on his own civil rights movement called “Cookie’s For Kids,” Sam saw an interview with Martin Luther King Jr. and Sam said “I was so moved by the things he had to say that I went right out and wrote my song.”
A Change Is Gonna Come was Sam Cooke’s response to the inequalities and injustices surrounding him. Sam’s song asked, “Is change gonna come?” Sam answered his own question with a resounding, “Yes.” Sam said he wrote the song in 20 minutes right after seeing the interview on TV. Sam thought of himself as a drum major for justice, peace and equality.
Sam Cooke sang about the civil rights issues of his time. Sam wrote A Change Is Gonna Come to help raise people’s awareness about racism and inequality during segregation, so Sam could have a better life, Sam used music as a weapon for change. Sam once said “You can’t tell me that all these important things are supposed to take care of themselves.” Sam Cooke was very passionate about social issues, Sam believed music could change the world. Sam Cooke’s song A Change Is Gonna Come is Sam’s anthem for the civil rights movement.
