NEGRO SPIRITUALS IN THE CHURCH
WHAT ARE NEGRO SPIRTUALS?
Negro Spirituals are a genre of religious folk music that originated during slavery in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. These spirituals were deeply rooted in the experiences of slaves, their strong Christian faith, and African musical traditions. Through music, spirituals expressed emotions such as sorrow, fear, and hope while conveying messages related to escape and resistance. They included various characteristics such as call and response, improvisation, and themes of faith and liberation.
I wanted to explore the influence of Negro spirituals on the Black church and how it has impacted modern churches today.
Negro Spirtuals are so prominent within the black community due to their historical significance and cultural and emotional resonance. These spirituals told stories of expression of resistance and survival. It was a way for African slaves to cope with their brutal circumstances. These songs often carried double meanings; on first listen, they were about biblical stories, but if you continued to listen, you would notice the messages of freedom, hope, and resistance, like songs expressing liberation.
These Negro spirituals often told the story of Moses and Daniel, both stories that teach us to Trust and to have faith in God’s plan. Through Moses’ encounter with the burning bush and the exodus from Egypt, Moses is a testament to the importance of Trusting in God’s plan. This story instilled a sense of hope and faith, trusting that GOD will prevail in the end.
In the story of Daniel in the lion’s den, it demonstrates unwavering faith in the face of danger. Despite a decree threatening his life for praying to God; Daniel remained faithful, trusting in the lord’s protection.
Both of these stories represented God’s children in very hard and challenging circumstances, ones that they thought they couldn’t make it out of as it was for slavery, but both Moses and Daniel stood firm, leaned on the lord, and trusted in his plan for them. This leads to my next question wondering why Negro Spirituals are so prominent in the Black church.
Go down, Moses
Way down in Egypt’s land;
Tell old Pharoah
To let My people go!
No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go
Let them come out with Egypt’s spoil,
Let my people go!
Enslaved people often similarly viewed Moses to Harriet Tubman as a courageous leader who guided their people to freedom. This connection stems from the story of the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt, as recounted in the book of Exodus, chapters three and four. They saw a strong parallel between their own plight and the Israelites’ journey to freedom, identifying themselves as the oppressed who would one day break free.
Deep River,
my home, is over Jordan.
Deep river
I want to cross over into the campground
Deep River is one of the most loved spirituals. It includes many references to biblical scriptures, such as Joshua 3:17: “The priest who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all of Israel until the whole nation completed the crossing on dry ground.” The intent to use this scripture was because of the significance of the Jordan River, which is heavily discussed in the books of Genesis and Numbers. In both books, they represent a border in which deliverance was truly possible, translating into the reality of enslaved Africans in that freedom was attainable in this life.
Didn’t my Lord Deliver Daniel
Deliver Daniel, deliver Daniel
Didn’t my Lord deliver Daniel
And why not every man?
He delivered Daniel from the lion’s den
Jonah from the belly of the whale
And the Hebrew children from the fiery furnace
And why not every man?
This spiritual tells the story of Daniel and the lion’s den, as told in the book of Daniel, chapter 6. It’s a story where Daniel maintained his faith through every trial. Although he was thrown into the lion’s den for praising GOD, he remained firm in his faith, which eventually led GOD to prevail and deliver him. This was an example to the slaves that if the Lord prevailed and delivered Daniel from his situation, he would do the same for them and free them from the bondage of slavery.
One Response
I think you conveyed the way Negro Spirituals showed and facilitated a sense of unwavering faith and trust well. Pulling from Christian stories is important in understanding the inspirations and perseverance of Black individuals, especially those who were enslaved.