On The Front Lines
Peace Activist, Singer/Songwriter Pete Seeger Speaks Out, and Sings Out, in Oldspeak Interview
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - In an interview with OldSpeak, the online journal of The Rutherford Institute, 86-year-old political activist and folk singer/songwriter Pete Seeger speaks out, and even sings out, about his life's work and his concerns for America's future. Speaking with John W. Whitehead, Seeger--described by Studs Terkel as "the boy with that touch of hope in the midst of bleakness"--reminisces about his experiences as a peace activist and his run-in with the House Un-American Activities Committee and shares his thoughts on the Iraq war, the environment, religion and modern-day activism.
Born in New York City on May 3, 1919, Pete Seeger helped to lay the foundation for American protest music, singing out about the plight of everyday working people and urging listeners to political and social activism. In 1940, Seeger met Woody Guthrie at a Grapes of Wrath migrant-worker benefit concert. Seeger, Guthrie, Lee Hays and Millard Lampell joined together to form the Almanac Singers, which became known for its political radicalism and support of communism. In 1942, Seeger was drafted by the U.S. Army and sent to Saipan in the Western Pacific. After the war, he helped start the People's Songs Bulletin, later Sing Out! magazine, which combined information on folk music with social criticism. In 1950, Seeger formed The Weavers with Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman. Targeted for the political messages behind some of their songs, the group was blacklisted and banned from television and radio. In 1955, the House Committee on Un-American Activities subpoenaed Seeger to appear before them. During the hearings, Seeger refused to disclose his political views and the names of his political associates. During the 1960s, Seeger traveled around the country, continuing to play his folk songs for the peace and civil rights movements. Seeger has won numerous awards for his contributions to American music and culture, including the Presidential Medal of the Arts, the prestigious Kennedy Center Award, and a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album. In 1996, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
OldSpeak, the online journal of The Rutherford Institute, is dedicated to publishing interviews, articles and commentary on subjects often overlooked by the mainstream media in the areas of politics, arts, culture, law and religion. The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.
