A song about social justice...about building consensus has become the victim of snarky dismissive comments that mirror the political dictum...no compromise.
According to a piece Linton Weeks on NPR, Kumbaya was originally used by African Americans asking god to intervene on their behalf against their oppressors. It was later used during the civil rights movement. The song was treated in a straightforward manner, held up without irony as a ritual of reverence, a soft-voice anthem of togetherness. That togetherness is being ridiculed in our political world. Compromise is considered a weakness.
You can find out more at the NPR website.
Sources cited include Michael E. Ross and Samuel G. Freedman.
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