slavery_culture

The slaves made developments in music and religion, for more information look at the questions with answers below.
 * Did slaves make any cultural developments? **

Slaves made coded songs that would hopefully lead to their freedom. They also practiced religion of Christianity. They didn't practice Christianity like the whites did, because in the whites they thought that it was o.k. to have slaves. -Sophie V

"In the early decades of the nineteenth century, Christianity had made little or no in-roads among blacks for fear that they might take literally such narratives as the Exodus. But as this "crisis of fear" spread across the South, suddenly rather impressive efforts were made to address the "needs" of the souls of black folk. These were well organized evangelistic endeavors, particularly in those areas with large plantations. Congregations stepped up their appeals, and refined their approaches to African-Americans. Preachers and planters alike urged them to fill the gallerys, and special seating that was set aside for these honored guests. Some owners were even motivated to build "praise houses" on their land, and recruited black preachers to proclaim the Lord's name (as long--of course--as a white foreman was present to monitor things so that they did not get out of hand). Large slaveholders like the Rev. Charles Colcock Jones worked to comprise a Christian primer for slaves to instill teachings that were designed as a response to the portents of revolution, and to serve as preventive measures to any insurrection." This is a quote from a website that explains a lot about the slave's religion. Right away the slaves did not want to worship the white mans God, because they knew that the white men thought that their God thought that it was o.k. to have slavery. Then Congregations tried to convert the African- Americans to Christianity, but a white man had to be present to monitor things, so it wouldn't get out of hand. -Sophie V ([])
 * What about slave religion? **

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/religion/feature_flash.html This website right here is a virtual archeological dig of antebellum religious slave communities. In it, there are many artifacts that have survived the conditions of time, and are available for research. Check it out! ---Zack


 * Did slaves develop any music or customs? **

[|Negro Spirituals] This is a primary source! It was an aritcle written in 1867 in the Atlanta Monthly which has a list of many spirituals that slaves sang while they where hard at work.-Sarah L.

From the PBS website there is a huge database all about antebellum slaves and their experiences. (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/) Right from the section about slave culture, comes this paragraph: "During the colonial and Antebellum periods, enslaved blacks pursued the right to express themselves using education, the arts, and craftsmanship against pragmatic, customary, and legal restrictions. From the earliest colonial settlements, folktales and fables circulated within slave communities in the South, reflecting the oral traditions of African societies and incorporating African symbolism and motifs. The rabbit, for example, was borrowed from African stories to represent the "trickster" in tales told by the enslaved. Folktales such as the popular Brer Rabbit adventures not only gave slaves a chance to create alternate realities in which they could experience revenge and other forbidden impulses, but they also imparted practical knowledge and survival and coping strategies to listeners. Folktales were not the only form of cultural expression African slaves brought to America. Archaeological finds dated from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries demonstrate that slaves crafted objects in accordance with African traditions as well. Retention of African traditions were strongest during the early colonial period and in areas of high slave concentration, particularly large plantations in the South. Slaves manufactured drums, banjos, and rattles out of gourds similar to those found in Africa. Enslaved women in South Carolina made baskets using an African coiling method and in Georgia they plaited rugs and mats with African patterns."

Here is an example of one of the instruments used by antebellum slaves: This is called a shereke. It was taken right from Africa, where this instrument is constantly used. URL for picture: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/education/history.html ---Zack

http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/allen/illustr.html This is a primary source from the 1860’s. This website has a lot of slave songs. -Sophie Vick

This website ( http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00394/slavemusic.htm ) is about how Peg Leg Joe helped to teach the slaves coded songs that would lead to their freedom. Their song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" meant to follow the North Star to Canada where they will be free. In the winter Joe would go around to slave plantations as a carpenter teaching them songs to freedom. During the summer he would help them escape to the north. By teaching them this song he helped numerous amounts of slaves escape. Sadly, that was the only things known about Peg Leg Joe. -Sophie V.


 * Do any of the customs still live on today? **

Before they were slaves, slaves didn't have much. They left their families and friends that the had always known an the future that they may have had in Africa. When they came they brought the things they had. These things weren't material things but some of the things their master couldnt take away from them. They had their memories and the traditions that their family shared with them. One thing slaves did when they gathered illegally, was sing hyms that they knew from Africa. Working in the fields also gave them time to think of hymns that could be added to their collection. They had to memorize hyms and folktales because they didnt, nor were they aloud to know, how to write or read. Many slave children like to play hand games that lots of children in todays society. Many are altered but are still around toady. [|Some Tradtions and Customs] media type="youtube" key="xVYfleNA7bw" height="344" width="425" "The old slave quarters of the Aiken family reveal many stories of slave life and culture in Charleston in the 19th century. Ironworking and the ability to cultivate rice are two of the many technical skills the slaves brought to the United States, contributing to Charleston's economic and rich cultural development." -Sara P.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/alt/african4.html This site gives some information on life in a slave society. It also explains some of the forms of worship, music and food that were developed by African Americans. -Emily Bach

 [] This site gives some information about how slaves would worship with great enthusiasm. Some planters even provided places for Sunday worship and hired preachers. -Emily Bach

http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00394/slavemusic.htm This site explains some things on slave music. One of the songs is called "Follow the Drinking Gourd." It was a song that gave the route for saves to escape and be free. -Emily Bach

When the sun comes back and the first quail calls, Follow the Drinking Gourd. For the old man is waiting for to carry you to freedom, If you follow the Drinking Gourd.

The river bank makes a very good road, The dead trees show you the way, Left foot, peg foot, traveling on Follow the Drinking Gourd.

The river ends between two hills, Follow the Drinking Gourd. There's another river on the other side, Follow the Drinking Gourd.

Where the great big river meets the little river, Follow the Drinking Gourd. For the old man is awaiting to carry you to freedom if you follow the Drinking Gourd.

This is the Drinking Gourd song. It was a coded song that helped slaves escape to freedom. http://www.beavton.k12.or.us/greenway/leahy/ugrr/gourd.htm -Emily Bach

http://cghs.dadeschools.net/slavery/antebellum_slavery/plantation_slave_life/diet_religion/religion.htm ---this website gives some information about the religion of the slaves and the history of their religion. It also talks about how whites were at first scared about converting slaves to Christianity, because they thought that it would create rebellions, and make the slaves think that they were equal to the whites. They then decided to convert the slaves becaue god wanted them too. -Sara P.

This video right here explains a lot about antebellum slave culture and religion. media type="custom" key="2719509" URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WgiGzXtq8U ---Zack

This website is about the history of slave spirituals, and how they developed. It says that the first spirituals were inspired by African songs, and you can hear some of the songs at the bottom of the website page. It also has some information about how the slave music contributes in our world today. http://www.negrospirituals.com/ --Sara P.

Another website: [] This is a website created by a college professor who majored in church religion, and has earned his doctorate degree in it. It talks about the main cultures and religions of African-American Antebellum slaves, and how they relate to African-American cultures and religions. ---Zack

Yet another website: http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/black_voices/voices_display.cfm?id=23 This website talks all about antebellum slaves and their culture, and how they created it. ---Zack

When slaves were captured and brought to America, they left their distance relatives and the home they love, but didn't leave their culture. One of the many traditions enslaved Africans brought with them was "The Jumping the Broom" ceremony. practiced at African American weddings. to find out more about this traditional ceremony you can visit this website - [|Jumping the Broom history]

Slaves had there own culture. They all lived different lives with different meanings. Even different plantations as close as 2 miles away would have there own customs and cultures. An example of one culture is "Jumping the Broom." This saying is a ceremonial symbol of marriage. it still happens today in same african american weddings. The would " jump the broom," because they were not legally aloud to get married. Because if the government said they could they would be counted as citizens. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_broom -Regan Cary

Slaves practiced their religion with a great deal of enthusiasm. Some plantation owners, masters, would give them a house or shed to worship in, and some would even have preachers. The preachers were mostly white men. The slaves found the preaching boring and not what they wanted. They didn't expect to hear "real" preaching with rhythmic chanted sermons backed up by inspiring gospel hymns. [] -Regan Cary

We'll soon be free, We'll soon be free, We'll soon be free, When de Lord will call us home. --verse from a song sung at a plantation near Georgetown, south carolina --Many plantations made there own songs, beats, and music. [] -Regan Cary

[|Christianity]