The series premiere explores the music that kept the spirit of the civil rights movement alive following King's death–from James Brown's black power anthem, "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" to Kendrick Lamar's searing protest song, "Alright," inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. The music in the episode celebrates the strength and solidarity of the African American experience while reminding us how far we still have to go.

Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, songs like Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" took on a new and heightened meaning and politically charged country music took center stage.

Following the killings of four Kent State University students during anti-Vietnam War protests, politically driven songs from Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and others became popular.