“Music should not be used just to forget our troubles, but to help us to understand and do something about them.”
Seeger's story, however, is not just about folk music, but also about his passion for social justice and his political involvement with left-wing groups. His invoking the First Amendment before the House Un-American Activities Committee in the early 1950s resulted in his being blacklisted on television for 17 years.
Honored by the Kennedy Center for outstanding musical achievement, music and justice are Seeger's passion. He says that music should not be used just to forget our troubles, but to help us to understand and do something about them. He has popularized union songs, freedom songs, songs about workers, songs about justice, as well as Woody Guthrie's indelible hymn to America, "This Land is Your Land".
Seeger has also been active on issues of the environment and his decade-long campaign to clean up the polluted Hudson River produced remarkable results, even though many said it was impossible. Pete Seeger: The Power of Song is tribute to a man who contributed so much to the quality of our lives and who suffered greatly for his political beliefs.
Everyone is invited to a free screening of this inspiring film
Sunday April 24th -- 5:30pm at Terraza 7 Train Café
40-19 Gleane Street, Elmhurst, NY 11373 (Take No. 7 train to 82nd St. – café is one block from Roosevelt & 83rd Street - find green banner)
