“Wade in the Water” (performed here by the Fisk Jubilee Singers) is one of the most enduring African American spirituals, rooted in the experiences of enslaved people and later embraced by civil rights and labor movements alike. Its themes of collective struggle, liberation, and perseverance have made it a powerful song for workers and organizers, reflecting a tradition in which music helps build solidarity, sustain courage, and inspire people to fight for a more just world.
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