During slavery (starting with the first slaves to arrive in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 and continuing until 1865 when the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery), spirituals evolved to serve a variety of purposes in the fight for freedom.

Lyrics from the spirituals served as metaphors for the troubling times slaves faced in their struggles for freedom

Purposes for Spirituals

1. Expression of democratic values and community solidarity

2. Source of inspiration and motivation

3. Expressions of protest4. Coded communication

Democratic Values and Community Solidarity

• Enslaved Africans affirmed the traditional African emphasis on the importance of family and (tribal) community identity

• Every member of the community was welcomed into the circle. A counter- clockwise circle dance ceremony was held while singing.

Inspiration and Motivation• Provided motivation and inspiration for

the ongoing struggle for freedom• Struggles included systematic efforts to

escape from bondage, slave-led revolts and insurrections

• Most often about heroes from ancestors’ bravery, victors in battles, or Christian Bible

Expressions of Protest• Direct expressions of protest were

dangerous• Creators of these songs went to

considerable lengths to disguise the true meanings of the lyrics

• For those within the enslaved community, the meanings were very clear

Coded Communication• Imbedded “hidden” or coded messages

in the lyrics for the purposes of clandestine (secret) communication on the Underground Railroad

• One of the first public revelations by a former slave of this secret communication is found in Frederick Douglass’s autobiographical writings