[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 94 (Friday, July 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CARLTON REESE, MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. EARL F. HILLIARD

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 12, 2002

  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commemorate the life of Carlton 
Reese today. Professor Reese led the Freedom Choir in Birmingham during 
the days of struggle in the 1960's and continued to lead it to his 
death this month. He provided the soul to the movement--without him the 
struggle might have failed or fallen into violence and disorder.
  He was the original writer of the great anthem of the movement, ``We 
Shall Overcome,'' now one of the most well known songs in the world and 
sung everywhere that people are struggling for freedom. It has been 
sung in the freedom rallies in Chile, in democratic rallies in Turkey 
and in the bomb shelters of Hanoi. In this song, Professor Reese left a 
permanent legacy of freedom, equality, peace and hope for all to come.
  At the tender age of 17, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth asked him to be the 
music director of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, 
which organized and directed the demonstrations in Birmingham. It was 
his music that defined the movement and its spirit. Some of that music 
can be found on the Smithsonian Institute's CD, ``Voices of the Civil 
Rights Movement.''
  When he graduated from Miles College in the '60s with a teaching 
degree, he was blacklisted by the Birmingham School system, and had to 
go to Tupelo, Mississippi to begin his career as a teacher. The 
Birmingham school system said that they did not want teachers who had 
been in jail--even if imprisoned for their commitment to freedom.
  Upon returning to Alabama to teach in the Shelby County schools, 
South of Birmingham, he became Minister of Music at the New Bethlehem 
Baptist Church in Dolomite, where he served for over 40 years, turning 
down positions with many of the great gospel churches throughout the 
nation. This humble giant of freedom and music also served as a Deacon 
in the church, Religious Education Consultant, Youth Staff Worker, 
Advisor to the Senior Citizens Program and Financial Planner for the 
building fund.
  Upon returning to Birmingham, he reorganized the Freedom Choir, which 
later took the name of the Sacred and Heritage Singers. Using this as a 
base, he became the Music Director for the City-Wide Unity Breakfast 
Program, and annual major event in Birmingham which brings members of 
the white and Black communities together to celebrate our progress and 
unity.
  We have lost this great freedom fighter, but he will march on 
wherever people struggle for freedom, peace and the human family. His 
music will be sung wherever people are celebrating their victories. His 
music will be sung in every valley and on every hill of this planet. 
Carlton Reese will be with us forever. He has overcome!

                          ____________________