NPR has a set of pieces on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the start of the Freedom Riders trip:

- A replay of an interview with James Farmer, Jr. on Fresh Air: A Freedom Ride Organizer On Nonviolent Resistance

- Another interview replay on Fresh Air, with historian Raymond Arsenault: Get On The Bus: 50 Years Of 'Freedom Rides'

- Jazz tracks: Instruments Of Change: Music Of The Freedom Riders, 50 Years Later

- and Photos From 'Life' On The Freedom Riders' 50th Anniversary

Here is a short history that was linked in a Mudcat thread: Freedom Rides.

Here's a Mudcat thread started by Azizi in 2007: African American Protest Songs and Slogans

Also, Looking for songs against racism

What other music content can you add?

~ Becky in Long Beach