In Search of One Big Union Singing Lectures on Folk Songs and Labor Movements

This chapter examines the experience and impact of a “singing lecture” on music and social movements that the author has performed for twenty-five years. It begins with a historical overview of how the lecture has evolved over time and details the various elements and their intention. In particular, it looks at the pedagogical possibilities of the encounter for students learning about social movements and organizing through songs—not only hearing about them but participating in the performance as well. It also considers the impact of such performances on the author as an activist-scholar and how the continued presentation fits into both the practice of teaching about social movements and also the praxis of encouraging engagement and empowering scholar activism and tools for social justice work.