Matthew Jones was a schooled, experienced musician, and became active in the Civil Rights Movement when he joined the Nashville Student Movement in 1960. Jones was an outspoken participant in the movement in Danville, Virginia, where he organized another vocal group, the Danville Freedom Voices, in 1963.
Jones relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, with his brother Marshall, who was also affiliated with the SNCC and their music ensemble, the Freedom Singers.
Matthew Jones faced down the Ku Klux Klan on many occasions and endured 29 arrests during the Civil Rights Movement. His experiences developed him into a "freedom singer" in the most literal manner.
"I don't think of myself as a cultural worker," Jones said. "I am a freedom singer; a freedom fighter. I've always been a freedom fighter; I'll probably go down that way, too. Freedom songs are different than other protest songs because they are really a mantra. The use of repetition allows for the message to be understood. If we sing a powerful statement enough times in a song, like 'This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine,' then we can internalize it".
Later lifeedit
Matthew Jones performed his repertoire around the world, including alongside terrorists in Northern Ireland.
During the Anti-Vietnam War movement he recorded a 45-rpm record, "Hell No, We Ain't Gonna Go" backed on the other side with "Super Sam."
At each performance, Jones included "The Freedom Chant," an affirmation he based on a famous quote by Fannie Lou Hamer and his own many years of direct action.
"I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I will not allow anybody at any time to violate my mind or my body in any shape, form or fashion. If they do, they'll have to deal with ME immediately! Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"
After nearly a year of deteriorating health, Jones died in New York City on March 30, 2011.
Matt Jones recordingedit
Matt Jones Then and Now, Relevant Records
SIDE A
Freedom Road
Uncle Tom's Prayer
Freedom Medley
Medgar Evers
Legend of Danville
Demonstrating G.I.
Avon Rollins
SIDE B
Oginga Odinga
Brother That Ain't Good
It's Like A Wheel
Nuclear Reactor
Tree of Life
Referencesedit
^Pietaro, John (April 3, 2011). "Matthew Jones, Freedom Singer, Civil Rights Activist, 1936-2011". Political Affairs. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
^Charles E. Cobb Jr. (2008). On the road to freedom: a guided tour of the civil rights trail (1st ed.). Chapel Hill, N.C.: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. p. 363. ISBN978-1-56512-439-4. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
^"Negroes beaten in Georgia Rally : Hit After Barnett Is Booed -- Wallace Widens Campaign". New York Times. 5 July 1964. Retrieved 6 February 2011. Angry whites clubbed three Negro civil rights workers with metal folding chairs ... Matthew Jones, 26, ...
^Kristin Baggelaar; Donald Milton (1976). Folk music: more than a song. New York: Crowell. p. 138. ISBN978-0-690-01159-3. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
^Murphree, Vanessa (2006). The selling of civil rights: the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the use of public relations. Studies in African American history and culture. New York: Routledge. pp. 86–87. ISBN978-0-415-97889-7. OCLC 64453304.
External linksedit
SNCC Digital Gateway: Matt Jones, Documentary website created by the SNCC Legacy Project and Duke University, telling the story of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee & grassroots organizing from the inside-out
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Matthew Jones activist news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message Learn how and when to remove this message Matthew Jones September 17 1936 March 30 2011 1 was an African American folk singer songwriter known for being a field secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee 2 3 and part of their The Freedom Singers in the 1960s 4 Jones was from Nashville Tennessee but also worked as a school teacher in Macon Georgia He was arrested 20 times for this civil rights activism 5 Matthew JonesBirth nameMatthew JonesBorn 1936 09 17 September 17 1936DiedMarch 30 2011 2011 03 30 aged 74 GenresA cappella folk musicOccupation s Singer civil rights activistInstrument s vocalsLabelsRelevant Records Contents 1 Civil Rights Movement 2 Later life 3 Matt Jones recording 4 References 5 External linksCivil Rights Movement editMatthew Jones was a schooled experienced musician and became active in the Civil Rights Movement when he joined the Nashville Student Movement in 1960 Jones was an outspoken participant in the movement in Danville Virginia where he organized another vocal group the Danville Freedom Voices in 1963 Jones relocated to Atlanta Georgia with his brother Marshall who was also affiliated with the SNCC and their music ensemble the Freedom Singers Matthew Jones faced down the Ku Klux Klan on many occasions and endured 29 arrests during the Civil Rights Movement His experiences developed him into a freedom singer in the most literal manner I don t think of myself as a cultural worker Jones said I am a freedom singer a freedom fighter I ve always been a freedom fighter I ll probably go down that way too Freedom songs are different than other protest songs because they are really a mantra The use of repetition allows for the message to be understood If we sing a powerful statement enough times in a song like This little light of mine I m gonna let it shine then we can internalize it Later life editMatthew Jones performed his repertoire around the world including alongside terrorists in Northern Ireland During the Anti Vietnam War movement he recorded a 45 rpm record Hell No We Ain t Gonna Go backed on the other side with Super Sam At each performance Jones included The Freedom Chant an affirmation he based on a famous quote by Fannie Lou Hamer and his own many years of direct action I m sick and tired of being sick and tired I will not allow anybody at any time to violate my mind or my body in any shape form or fashion If they do they ll have to deal with ME immediately Freedom Freedom Freedom After nearly a year of deteriorating health Jones died in New York City on March 30 2011 Matt Jones recording editMatt Jones Then and Now Relevant Records SIDE A Freedom Road Uncle Tom s Prayer Freedom Medley Medgar Evers Legend of Danville Demonstrating G I Avon Rollins SIDE B Oginga Odinga Brother That Ain t Good It s Like A Wheel Nuclear Reactor Tree of LifeReferences edit Pietaro John April 3 2011 Matthew Jones Freedom Singer Civil Rights Activist 1936 2011 Political Affairs Retrieved 2018 05 28 Charles E Cobb Jr 2008 On the road to freedom a guided tour of the civil rights trail 1st ed Chapel Hill N C Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill p 363 ISBN 978 1 56512 439 4 Retrieved 6 February 2011 Negroes beaten in Georgia Rally Hit After Barnett Is Booed Wallace Widens Campaign New York Times 5 July 1964 Retrieved 6 February 2011 Angry whites clubbed three Negro civil rights workers with metal folding chairs Matthew Jones 26 Kristin Baggelaar Donald Milton 1976 Folk music more than a song New York Crowell p 138 ISBN 978 0 690 01159 3 Retrieved 6 February 2011 Murphree Vanessa 2006 The selling of civil rights the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the use of public relations Studies in African American history and culture New York Routledge pp 86 87 ISBN 978 0 415 97889 7 OCLC 64453304 External links editSNCC Digital Gateway Matt Jones Documentary website created by the SNCC Legacy Project and Duke University telling the story of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee amp grassroots organizing from the inside out nbsp nbsp This biographical article about a United States activist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matthew Jones activist amp oldid 1217906191, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
