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African American Spirituals

The document discusses the history and significance of African American spirituals, which are religious songs rooted in the experiences of enslaved Africans in the United States. These spirituals served as a form of communication, expression of hope, and resistance during periods of enslavement, emancipation, and the civil rights movement. Over time, spirituals evolved into protest songs that addressed social justice and equality, maintaining their role in the African American cultural identity.

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38 views2 pages

African American Spirituals

The document discusses the history and significance of African American spirituals, which are religious songs rooted in the experiences of enslaved Africans in the United States. These spirituals served as a form of communication, expression of hope, and resistance during periods of enslavement, emancipation, and the civil rights movement. Over time, spirituals evolved into protest songs that addressed social justice and equality, maintaining their role in the African American cultural identity.

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9721241
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The History of African American Spirituals


Spirituals have a long history in African American culture in the United States.
A spiritual is a religious song that relates to the experience of enslaved African Americans.

Introduction to Spirituals
The word spiritual comes from the King James translation of the Bible verse Ephesians 5:19. The verse
reads, "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in
your heart to the Lord." Spirituals are a blend of the Christian religion enslaved Africans discovered in
the American South, and the African-styled songs from their homeland.

Enslaved Africans would blend their style of music with Christianity. Singing as a form of communication
is deeply rooted in African American culture. When Africans were kidnapped and shipped across the
Atlantic during the Middle Passage, they used singing as a way to communicate during the voyage and
to stay alive through the oppression and unjust treatment.

Spirituals During Enslavement


In the eighteenth century, enslaved Africans would gather together in “camp meetings” outdoors. There,
they would sing and dance. Sometimes it would appear as if they were in a trance. At times they would
also perform “ring shout" style, a shuffling, circular dance with chanting and hand clapping. This is seen
in the faster versions of the spirituals “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Jesus Led Me All the Way.”

Enslaved Africans were drawn to parallels between their difficult situation and those in Biblical stories.
There was Moses, who would lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. After the Israelites’ emancipation,
Moses led the escaped Israelites through the desert to the promised land, or Canaan. In the Bible,
Canaan was the land God promised to the Israelites. This hope for a better future is found in the lyrics,
“O Canaan, sweet Canaan, I am bound for the land of Canaan.” Influential abolitionist and former
enslaved person Fredrick Douglass wrote of this spiritual in his book My Bondage and My Freedom
(1855). Douglass said this spiritual spoke of getting into heaven. He said it was also about the enslaved
people arriving in the North, where they could find freedom.

At times, enslaved Africans would sing spirituals to strengthen their resolve, or to persevere toward a
better future. Not only would the songs have double meanings, but they would sometimes have
messages. Enslaved Africans would also sing songs while working in the fields. Some of the spirituals
would have encoded meanings, like “Go Down, Moses,” which Harriet Tubman used when she was a
conductor for the Underground Railroad. Tubman would use the song to let people know she was there
to help them while they escaped.

Spirituals During Emancipation


The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, signed by Abraham Lincoln, meant that some enslaved people
were free. But slavery continued to exist. African Americans still did not have the same rights as white
Americans. Even after the 13th Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1865, making slavery illegal in
the whole country, African Americans still did not have equal rights.

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Name Date

The History of African American Spirituals


As newly emancipated African Americans searched for jobs and homes, they
continued to face unjust treatment. Some examples of the racism they encountered
included not being able to get jobs and fair pay because of the color of their skin. During this time,
African Americans would continue to use spirituals to share their frustration over this unequal
treatment. The spirituals were also about their hope for a better life.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott from 1955 to 1956 used spirituals to strengthen people’s resolve during
their year-long refusal to use the bus. During the boycott, African Amerians would share rides or walk. In
some cases, their commute to work took longer than if they caught the bus! One spiritual they sang to
persevere through this time was “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize.” It was based on the gospel hymn “Keep
Your Hands on the Plow,” but they changed the words to fit their current boycott circumstance. The
Montgomery Bus Boycott marked the start of the civil rights movement, whereby people would come
together to demand equal treatment for all Americans.

Spirituals During the Civil Rights Movement


The 1960s was the era of protest songs and freedom songs. Spirituals changed into songs that had a
political message, or that hoped for change. During the civil rights movement, people used music to
express their views on justice and equality. Protest songs were a popular form of music. They could be
heard both at rallies and on the radio.

“Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” was just one of many songs adapted from spirituals during the civil rights
movement. The movement’s famous song, "We Shall Overcome," mixed the gospel hymn "I'll Overcome
Someday" with the spiritual "I'll Be Alright." Combining the songs allowed protesters to link their past
trials with their current unequal treatment.

During the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, musicians Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and
Peter, Paul and Mary performed to show their support for the movement. Often protest songs describe
something that is going on in a community, or the world. These songs describe the kind of changes
they would like to see happen. Protest songs can be angry, sad, or optimistic. They have been written in
all different styles, from folk to soul to hip-hop. Songs like “What’s Going On” and “A Change is Gonna
Come”are examples of protest songs.

Impact of Spirituals
Without a doubt, spirituals have been an important part of African American culture. During each
period of struggle, African Americans have used songs to help them persevere. Songs are used to
communicate messages. Spirituals are used to hope for a better future for African Americans and their
families. While there have been different styles of spirituals over the years, the purpose has been the
same: to sing about the African American experience.

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© 2007 - 2023
2020 Education.com
Education.com

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