Final answer:
'We Shall Overcome' does not have a single composer, but rather is a collective work shaped by cultural and folk traditions. It was popularized in the modern context by Zilphia Horton who learned it from tobacco workers and taught it to the Highlander Folk School, later making its way to Pete Seeger.
Step-by-step explanation:
The civil rights anthem, 'We Shall Overcome', does not have a single composer. Instead, it is the result of multiple cultural and folk traditions. Some believe the song began as a spiritual, which were songs of resistance created by enslaved African Americans. The modern version of 'We Shall Overcome' was popularized during the Civil Rights Movement, notably through the efforts of Zilphia Horton, who learned the song from tobacco workers and shared it with the Highlander Folk School. From there, it was taught to Pete Seeger, who changed a few of the lyrics into what we know today.
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