How Music Impacted the Slaves - Essay Example

of the Teacher’s How Music Impacted the American Slaves History of formation of economic foundation and slavery in America go side by side. On May 4, 1494, Columbus landed on the new land. In 1619, first African slaves were brought to Jamestown Virginia to work on tobacco crops. During the period of 17th and 18th centuries, America African slaves were brought to the country that helped build the economic foundation of this country. In 1793, after the invention of the cotton gin, slavery became an important parameter of south’s economy. The issue over slavery tore the nation apart in the bloody American Civil war during 1861 – 1865. The war freed 4 million slaves, but the legacy of American slavery remains as a part of the nation’s history. It is no doubt that slavery was a brutal institution and many scholars have shaded lights on this subject and many aspects of American slavery have so far been studied. However, researchers most recently have explored an important aspect of slavery age, which are social and cultural lives of slaves. In social and cultural lives of American slaves music played a significant role. This assignment does not focus on the political and economic side of slavery in the USA; it presents a brief report describing what music meant to the slaves in America and its impacts on the slavery. American slaves were brought from Africa. Though the than American white people considered slaves as a merchandise; however, in fact, they were human beings. During the period of American slavery, the African slaves faced misery, hardship, and brutality. African slaves possessed a vital and vibrant cultural legacy, which they used to insulate themselves from the depredations of slavery. Culture defines language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and arts of a group of people. Music in the African culture played a significant role as it documented their history since they did not have a written language. Music and dance were the devices for African tribes to expresses emotions in personal and social lives; such as birth, wedding, even the loss of a baby tooth. Music played and continues to play a vital role in African tribes and societies. American slaves found music as a mode of communication and expression. Slave music can be grouped in three major categories: religious, work, and recreational. African traditions and Christianity inspired religious songs; work songs eased the burden of hard labor and helped slaves synchronize group tasks, encouraged slaves during long hours of physical toil; it kept their spirit up and could work harder and longer. Recreational songs mostly were played on string instruments; in their free time slaves listened and danced to the music. The lyrics of the slave music were simple; it expressed their hardship, sadness, and feelings (“Understand Slave Culture Through Songs”). They lyrics were repetitive which appealed to their educational levels. Slaves used music to protest against slavery by ridiculing their masters in songs. For example, a group of slaves witnessed their master falling from his horse, which was turned into a song with thinly veiled lyrics and sung by all the slaves in the field the next day as he rode by (“The New World” 1). It was mentioned above that salves did not pay much attention to the lyrics; however they were expressive that promised a better world in this and the next life. For example (Faigin 1), There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole. There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. One of these mornings bright and fair, I’m gonna lay down my heavy load. Gonna kick my wings and cleave the air, I’m gonna lay down my heavy load. Nat Turner was born on October 2, 1800, and was hanged on and skinned on November 1832 (“Net Turner’s Rebellion”). After the Nat Turner revolt, strict curfews required slaves to show passes in their travel from one plantation to another. At that time, slaves expressed their emotions through the following lyrics (Faigin): Run nigger, run; the patrol’ll get you Run nigger, run; its almost break of a day. Labors of slaves were directed to bring profit to the plantation owners. Big profit required harsh and intensive works at large plantations. During the time of difficult labor, slaves would sing songs to lift their spirits by praising lords and asking HIS helps: “Walk with me Lord, Walk with me! All along this tejus journeys, I want Jesus to walk with me (“Songs in Slave Society”). Slaves also used codes in their songs for their fellow workers only. One of the songs was “Follow the Drinking Gourd”, which contained advice and details of how to escape to Canada (“Follow a Drinking Gourd”). The lyric says; When the sun come back, When the firs’ quail call, Then the time is come, Foller the drinkin’ gourd. The words “drinkin’ gourd” in this lyrics mention about the direction showed by the Polar star; that is to Canada. One of the popular slave songs is Wade Under Water was associated with the movement called The Underground Railroad. This movement consisted of a vast network of secret routes, many safe houses, and people that helped escape slaves to North and Canada (“The Underground Railroad”). The coded slave song Wade Under Water seemed to encourage people baptized in order to find hope for the future. However, different lines conveyed various messages to the slaves. The line, “ God’s gonna trouble the water” tells that slaves who were caught during the escape would be punished by death as an example to others. The line, “If you don’t believe I’ve been redeemed” reminds that God is on their side, and they would be redeemed by following the instruction. Another line, “It chills my body but not my soul” reminds the journey would be long and uncomfortable. American slave culture flourished over three centuries. On one hand, their hard work built the economic foundation of the country; on the other hand, they faced whippings, beatings, executions, and rapes. Even in this atmosphere, slaves developed their own culture, which was based on a variety of African tribal customs; story telling and enthusiastic group worship. In the American society, they were prevented from reading and writing. So they did not have a mode of communication. They compensated it by embracing a different form of communication; music, the concept that they brought from their homeland. Thus, music became a vital part of the American slave culture. It bolstered their spirits, gave hope, and strength in their daily lives that mainly consisted of hardship. Eventually, their songs became descriptive that provided them with directions on how to escape to freedom. Works Cited Faigin, T. Negro Sprituals: Songs of Survival. jsfmusic.com. np., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. http://www.jsfmusic.com/Uncle_Tom/Tom_Article3.html “Follow a Drinking Gourd: A Cultural History.” followthedrinkinggourd.org. np., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. http://www.followthedrinkinggourd.org/What_The_Lyrics_Mean.htm “Nat Turner’s Rebellion.” pbs.org. PBS, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1518.html “Songs in Slave Society.” Richmond.edu. History Engine, n.d. Web. 03. Dec. 2013. http://historyengine.richmond.edu/episodes/view/4844 “The New World.” uccalcgary.ca. n.p.,n.d Web. 03 Dec. 2013. http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/migrations/four5c.html “The Underground Railroad.” nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic,. N.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/multimedia/interactive/the-underground-railroad/?ar_a=1 “Understand Slave Culture Through Songs.” ettc.net. The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, n.p. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. http://www.ettc.net/tah/lessonplans/plandetails.cfm?ID=1898 Read More