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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 3 page paper discusses the impact of the Negro Spiritual on American culture and musical forms. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_MBspirit.rtf
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States. Simultaneously music and message, these spirituals served dual roles and dual purposes throughout this time in American history. However, it has to be stated that the influence and impact
that the spiritual has had on American culture from its beginning is far-reaching and wide spread. It has been said of the human being that the human mind finds a
way. In other words, given limitations and parameters, the human mind finds a way to express itself. This is exactly what occurred with the slaves working on the plantations. Most
were warned not to speak to each other in the fields, and for the most part, if they tried to speak it was difficult because so many of them, just
off the ship from African, spoke different languages. However, as the homogenization of the slaves began and importation was no longer allowed, slave owners continued to curtail talking amongst the
slaves in the field for fear that they would plan an insurrection. But singing, especially of religiously oriented material, could be permitted. It was assumed that, being subhuman, the
Negro would benefit from exposure to the gospel and by the passing on of the word of the Lord from one black worker to another they might all be christianized
and so realize their place in the world. Such was the convoluted logic of pre-Civil War America. However, the spirituals were much, much, more. Such songs as Wade in the
Water and "Following the Drinking Gourd are, on one level, songs about Baptism and accepting the life changing applications of Christianity(Higginson). However, on a subtler level the songs gave information
from one plantation to another, indicating which times were right for escape, or warning those contemplating escape that the way was not clear, yet. Key words, such as Jordan or
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