The Evolution of Spirituals from Slave Songs

Spirituals are generally referred to Christian songs created by the African Americans during their struggles and hardships of slavery. The slave songs become spiritual, given their ability to influence and impact positive Christian values in the tradition. It would be impossible to believe of spirituals without the African American slave songs.  The spirituals would be way far behind, without foundations from African American slavery songs that were associated with a higher powerful being. African American songs asked for help from God through singing and praying hence creating hope and belief of a better future as recited through the songs (Allen et al., 1867). It is therefore right to say that spirituals would be on a different and a lower level today without the presence of the slave songs.

Question 2

Sure, the video proves that most spiritual songs evolved from slave works, their experiences, and hardships (PBS, 2014). Slave works would lead to something else if the songs were not directed towards meeting the spiritual life of individuals. The slave works songs would have evolved to liberate and encourage Africans to kill or fight the whites until they gain their freedom. It is essential to note that most slave songs by African Americans reflected their sufferings and tiredness while working, their desperation in life, and much more horrors they had to experience on a daily basis. However, the slave work songs later evolved and inspired the African Americans, believing in a higher being who would save them in the future (PBS, 2014). 

Question 3

It is surprising that the spirituals we are aware of today are not meant for the Christians. The statement is true given that scholars believe that Christianity music evolved from the slave songs. Messages of hope and inspiration in the salve songs helped set the spiritual pace for individuals to believe in God as a higher being. Research on slave songs on the video proves that the spirituals originated from the suffering and pain experienced by African slaves, who saw the need to believe in God as the only way to save themselves from the sufferings and pain in the new land (Allen et al., 1867). 

Question 4

Personally, the transformation from African American slave songs to spiritual music is essential as it lay an excellent foundation for Christianity. African Americans were able to leave a better life, full of hope and better visions about the future. Slaves’ sufferings and pain influenced their songs to be associated with God, as the highest being who would save them from the troubles they experienced (Allen et al., 1867). African Americans who transformed the slave songs to spirituals gave hope and encouraged each other to live the moment, expect the worst, and remain hopeful in God. Additionally, it is interesting that these attributes still influence the modern Christian music.

Question 5

I believe that slave songs helped African individuals redeem themselves, express hope, and believe in a life beyond their suffering. The meanings of these songs were very encouraging, hence influencing individuals to put up with the pain then, as the future would be better. I believe that the songs were classified as spirituals, given their ability to inspire and encourage individuals who have lost hope in life. Christians believe that the music lay a great foundation, given that African Americans had no other hope but believing in God that he would save them from the slavery they were experiencing at the time.

References

Allen, W. F., Ware, C. P., & Garrison, L. M. (1867). Slave songs of the United States. Courier Corporation.

PBS. (2014). HISTORY DETECTIVES | Slave Songbook | PBS. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JtD_YpyXYU