Sis Cunningham

Protest folk is a branch of folk music created to carry social and political messages—about labor, civil rights, peace, and justice—through direct, memorable songs. It relies on accessible melodies, clear storytelling, and communal sing‑along choruses. The songs often repurpose traditional tunes or hymn-like progressions so that large crowds can learn them quickly and sing them together at meetings, picket lines, and marches. While rooted in earlier ballads and union songs, protest folk reached wide audiences during the mid‑20th century and remains a living practice wherever music is used to mobilize, educate, or bear witness.