This article was contributed by Rev. Dr. Donna Cox.
Footnotes
[1] Ralph H. Metcalfe, "The Western African Roots of Afro-American Music," The Black Scholar 1.8 (1970): 17, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41206250.
[2] Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself, edited by Benjamin Quarles (Cambridge, Mass.: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, [1845]1960), 99.
[3] Claudia Sutherland, “Stono Rebellion (1739),” Black Past.org, September 18, 2018, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/stono-rebellion-1739/.
[4] Banning of drums was not consistent throughout young America. African drumming continued unabated in places like Congo Square in New Orleans. See Drumming for Peace, “African Drumming in Early America (Part 1),” Drumming for Peace, January 1, 1970, http://drummingforpeace.blogspot.com/2009/02/african-drumming-in-early-colonial.html.
[5] “What Is the Underground Railroad?,” National Parks Service (U.S. Department of the Interior), https://www.nps.gov/subjects/undergroundrailroad/what-is-the-underground-railroad.htm.
[6] Bradford, Sarah (1886). Harriet The Moses of Her People, Lockwood & Son, NY. 28
[7] Douglass, An American Slave, 98.
[8] Archaeologist Daniel Sayers has explored and written about many of the remaining 112,000 acres of swamp and shares his discoveries. See Sandy Hausman, “Fleeing To Dismal Swamp, Slaves And Outcasts Found Freedom,” NPR (NPR, December 28, 2014), https://www.npr.org/2014/12/28/373519521/fleeing-to-dismal-swamp-slaves-and-outcasts-found-freedom#:~:text=Most%20Americans%20know%20about%20the%20Underground%20Railroad%2C%20the%20route%20that,Virginia%20and%20northeastern%20North%20Carolina.
[9] Communities of people of African descent not born on the continent have been formed with the intention of reclaiming what was lost in the middle passage. They continue to create new songs using African languages even as the members attempt to learn to speak different African tongues
[10] Kenyatta D. Barry, “Singing in Slavery: Songs of Survival, Songs of Freedom,” PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), http://www.pbs.org/mercy-street/blogs/mercy-street-revealed/songs-of-survival-and-songs-of-freedom-during-slavery/.
[11] Michael Cohen has written a rich article on the social history of contraband song. See Michael Cohen, “Contraband Singing: Poems and Songs in Circulation During The Civil War,” American Literature 82. 2 (2010): 271-304.
[12] Sacvan Bercovitch and Cyrus R. K. Patell, eds, Nineteenth-Century Poetry, 1800-1910, Vol. 4 (Cambridge University Press, 1994), 202; “Image 2 of The Song of the Contrabands,” The Library of Congress, accessed June 10, 2021, https://www.loc.gov/resource/ihas.200001991.0/?sp=2. The song was arranged by Thomas Baker and published by Horace Waters, New York, 1861.
Additional Reading
Cox, Donna M. “The Power of a Song in a Strange Land.” The Conversation, September 3, 2020. https://theconversation.com/the-power-of-a-song-in-a-strange-land-129969.
FAQs
Through forceful removal from Africa, the dangerous middle passage, to inhumane treatment on the plantation, song served important purposes including recreation, prayer and worship, and work songs or field hollers. Beyond the musical aspects, singing provided religious and social commentary.
What insight does Douglass offer about the singing of enslaved people? ›
In this instance, Douglass explains that many Northerners mistakenly believe that the singing of enslaved people is evidence of their happiness. He says that the songs are actually evidence, on an almost subconscious emotional level, of the enslaved peoples' deep unhappiness.
What was one purpose of the songs enslaved people wrote and sang? ›
As it was illegal in most slave states to teach slaves to read or write, songs were used to communicate messages and directions about when, where, and how to escape, and warned of dangers and obstacles along the route.
Why did singing help during the civil rights movement? ›
Music and singing played a critical role in inspiring, mobilizing, and giving voice to the civil rights movement. “The freedom songs are playing a strong and vital role in our struggle,” said Martin Luther King, Jr., during the Albany Movement. “They give the people new courage and a sense of unity.
How did slavery influence music? ›
Music was a way for slaves to express their feelings whether it was sorrow, joy, inspiration or hope. Songs were passed down from generation to generation throughout slavery. These songs were influenced by African and religious traditions and would later form the basis for what is known as “Negro Spirituals”.
Why did the slaves use a singing style known as call and response? ›
Call and response are widely present in parts of the Americas touched by the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The tradition of call and response fosters dialogue and its legacy continues today, as it is an important component of oral traditions.
What did Mr Douglass say he would give a general outline of? ›
I have experienced, within the last eighteen or twenty months, many incidents, all of which it would be interesting to communicate to you; but many of these I shall be compelled to pass over at this time, and confine my remarks to giving a general outline of the manner and spirit with which I have been hailed abroad, ...
How many days a week did slaves work? ›
On a typical plantation, slaves worked ten or more hours a day, "from day clean to first dark," six days a week, with only the Sabbath off. At planting or harvesting time, planters required slaves to stay in the fields 15 or 16 hours a day.
Why did enslavers and overseers encourage enslaved people to sing while working? ›
For example, to keep their spirits up, they sang work songs while they picked cotton, shucked corn, cut wood and did other repetitive work. For this reason, many enslavers and overseers encouraged enslaved people to sing while working, since they thought it made them work harder.
What song did slaves sing to escape? ›
“Wade in the Water” told the passengers to get into the river to walk, so they would stay hidden from view and search dogs wouldn't be able to find them. A slave would sing “Steal Away” when they were planning on escaping soon. “Sweet Chariot” was sung to let slaves know that they would be escaping soon.
Evidence of slavery predates written records; the practice has existed in many cultures and can be traced back 11,000 years ago due to the conditions created by the invention of agriculture during the Neolithic Revolution. Economic surpluses and high population densities were conditions that made mass slavery viable.
How many slaves did Harriet Tubman free? ›
Myth: Harriet Tubman rescued 300 people in 19 trips. Fact: According to Tubman's own words, and extensive documentation on her rescue missions, we know that she rescued about 70 people—family and friends—during approximately 13 trips to Maryland.
How music changed the civil rights movement? ›
African American spirituals, gospel, and folk music all played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement. Singers and musicians collaborated with ethnomusicologists and song collectors to disseminate songs to activists, both at large meetings and through publications.
How can singing help the society? ›
Singing together creates a strong sense of community and social inclusion. Singing with others enhances the possibilities of empathic relationships and generates a positive group identity. Social inclusion is a key part of recovery for people with mental health needs.
How did artists raise awareness of the civil rights movement among the public? ›
Images created by Lyon, Fernandez, and many other artists played a pivotal role in shaping the public's understanding of the civil rights movement and inspiring citizens to action. Today, photographers continue to pick up their cameras to highlight injustices.
When did slaves start singing? ›
The American Negro Spirituals are the folk songs created by the enslaved Africans after their arrival in North America between 1619 and 1860.
How were language and music important in the life of slaves? ›
How were language and music important in the life of slaves? Since the first generations of blacks had difficulty speaking with white owners, they learned "pidgin", which retained some African words, but mainly drew English words. Music relied heavily on rhythm and was used to pass time in the fields.
How did gospel music help slaves? ›
That birthed spirituals and other music that allowed them to express their hopes and frustrations about the situation they were in. Music was doing a lot of work for Black people. It was giving them hope. It was giving them an escape from their lives in slavery.
