Saturday, November 23, 2013

Negro Spirituals

"Negro Spirituals" were songs that the African slaves used to sing while working in the fields. These songs served several purposes. They helped slaves make miserable work a little bit easier to do, and they communicated messages that the slave owners did not hear. Many of the songs sounded like Christian songs, but actually they were instructions for slaves who wanted to attempt to escape to freedom. "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" sounded like a Christian song telling God to come and take me away, but it was giving instructions about the Underground Railroad, which used "chariots" to help slaves escape. "Wade in the Water" sounded like a Christian song, since in Christianity, water is a symbol of giving yourself up to God, but actually it was telling anyone who wanted to run away to try to walk (wade) in the water because the dogs would not be able to follow their scent. Negro spirituals are the first "American" form of music. Their influence can be heard in R&B, Gospel, pop, and many other forms of modern American music. Here is a site with more information on Negro Spirituals.

Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was a secret network that helped slaves escape to freedom in the northern states and eventually to Canada. You can learn more about it here.