Transcript Slave Spirituals

Slave Spirituals
Source
Sweet Chariot: the story of the spirituals. (n.d.). Office of
Teaching & Learning - University of Denver.
Retrieved December 11, 2012, from
http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/freedom/slavery.cfm
Spirituals During Slavery
• In the period of captivity that began with
the arrival of the first cargo of Africans in
Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 and
continued until 1865 (when legalized
slavery ended with the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation), spirituals
gradually evolved to serve a variety of
purposes in the fight for freedom.
Purpose of Spirituals
1) Singing as an expression of democratic values and
community solidarity
2) Singing as a source of inspiration and motivation
3) Singing as an expression of protest
4) Singing as coded communication.
Of course, many songs served multiple functions in different times
and places. However, it is instructive to examine a few examples
of songs that can be understood – at least at one level – as
illustrative of each of the four categories.
Singing as an expression of democratic
values and community solidarity
For example – the “ring shout” (call and
response)
• “How Do You Do Ev’ry Body”
• What is the emotion? What do you feel?
Singing as a source of inspiration and
motivation
For example, some songs borrowed from
the bible to tell stories of freedom fighters.
• “Moses”
• Who is Moses in this song? Who is King
Pharaoh?
Singing as an expression of protest
• “Heav’n, Heav’n”
• Take a look at the lyrics. How do you
interpret them?
• Take a brief look at the interpretation
above.
Singing as coded communication
“It is very likely that both signal songs and map
songs were utilized in combination with any number
of other clandestine communication tools, including
the extensive use of symbols sewn onto quilts that
assisted prospective “passengers” on the
Underground Railroad in rehearsing the specific
places that would need to be reached for a
successful trip to safety in the North or Canada.”
• “Follow the Drinking Gourd”
History Detectives: Slave
Songbook (PBS)
Please answer the questions as you
watch. We will stop as needed.