Why did the song “A Change Is Gonna Come” become an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement?
Cooke wrote it after visiting Washington, D.C., where he couldn’t believe the number of homeless people that he saw.
The song asks listeners to seek help when faced with difficulties that seem overwhelming.
The song tells those who feel victimized or worthless that they are not invisible.
Black Americans could relate to the song’s frustration with continued racism and hope for a better future.