We Shall Overcome: Sacred Song on the Devil's Tongue: The Story of the most Influential song of the 20th Century, how it became 'We Shall

Everything you think you know about the history of "We Shall Overcome" is probably wrong. This book reveals the true, previously untold story of the iconic freedom and protest anthem, "We Shall Overcome." It also documents the journey of discovery leading to its likely "missing link" author, Louise Shropshire. - A sharecropper's daughter and self-proclaimed "nobody," who, through dedication to God, country, and her fellow man, overcomes racism and poverty to find herself in the inner circle of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey and, the African American Civil Rights Movement. Along her way, Shropshire composes and copyrights a popular Gospel hymn titled, "If My Jesus Wills", more commonly known as "I'll Overcome".

Featuring more than 100 extraordinary photographs, this book not only describes the disturbing details surrounding the misappropriation of We Shall Overcome but also explores the historical attitudes of Black-exploitation, subjugation, and appropriation in America by non-culture-bearers. -Attitudes that enabled such an unthinkable act to occur in the first place and remain unchallenged for more than half a century. Although the US Library of Congress has named, We Shall Overcome "The Most Powerful Song of the 20th Century", Louise Shropshire would die penniless and unrecognized for her historical contribution.