- In chapter 14 of DuBois’s “The Soul of Black Folk”, he speaks of the “ sorrow songs’ that were previously sung by slaves. These songs were an expression of the agony they had to endure by their slave masters. Although these songs that they sang were mournful they had a positive effect on the African Americans that were slaves. These songs were also used to uplift one another through the dark times of slavery and create the strength to move on. The reason why the ”Sorrows Songs” are so significant to African American culture is that it is a piece of art that symbolizes what black people went through and a vital part of how they got through it. The songs also represent how strong African Americans were even when they were constantly abused.
- The song that I found most compelling was “Roll Jordan Roll”.This song doesn’t say too much lyrically but it displays a melancholily but hopeful sound. It shows the spiritual strength that slaves used to stay strong in the horrible conditions they were in. I also discovered that the song was a secrete message to escape from their captures. The intelligence the slaves had, to use music as a way to possibly remove themselves from the plantations is amazing. They were not given education but yet they tried to find ways to end their suffering.
