Nina Simone wrote “Mississippi Goddam” in response to the 1963 murders of Medgar Evers in Mississippi and four young children at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Alabama. Her 1964 performance of the song at Carnegie Hall was recorded live, released as a single, and subsequently banned in several Southern states. Hate groups purchased the recording in bulk in an attempt to destroy it. In 1965, she sang “Mississippi Goddam” in front of 10,000 people at the end of the Selma to Montgomery march. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ Explore more incredible music written in response to appalling circumstances and tragedies as we celebrate the resilience of artists and activists throughout our #VoicesofHope festival this April. Photos: Alfred Wertheimer/MUUSCollection and #CHRoseArchives