Assignment Prompt: “Unshackled Voices: The Legacy of Negro Spirituals”
- Watch the Video
View “Negro Spirituals: The Music That Helped Free Enslaved African Americans | ABJ Clip” (YouTube link below).
- Historical Context
Explain how spirituals emerged and how West African musical roots combined with Christian themes.
- Coded Meanings
Discuss the ways spirituals carried hidden messages, including directions for escape via the Underground Railroad.
- Musical Elements
Identify defining features such as call-and-response, improvisation, and emotive vocals.
Show how these elements influenced genres like gospel, blues, and jazz.
- Contemporary Relevance
Examine why spirituals remain significant today and how they continue to inspire modern social justice movements.
