Spirituals Essay, Research Paper

Spirituals and ?Code? Songs

Spirituals were songs originally used as vector for oral tradition for the African American population. Since they were conveyed orally, there were often times many versions of the same song. Many spirituals were based on African folk tales or rhythms. They were used by slaves in the south to exchange issues of freedom. They were used to spread secret information across a wide area without the white slave owners finding out. The main use of spirituals and code songs was on the underground railroad. Many people in the underground railroad where code named ?Moses,? after the biblical figure who rescued a people from bondage and oppression. In this case the people wanted freedom from the chains that held them as slaves.