1.Du Bois believes that his “sorrow songs” are of great significance to the history and culture of African Americans, but because they represent the aspirations and beliefs of African Americans in the slave society at that time. Each song has a different meaning, but they tell us that African Americans aspire to move forward in a more real world. Although the slaves’ minds and their relationships were clouded by fear, they still held on to the hope of a better life, held together, fumbled for some kind of strength, and longed for the ultimate justice.

2.In this chapter, I think “My Way Is Cloudy” and “Michael Row The Boat Ashore ” are the most meaningful songs. For they represent, respectively, the rebirth of the hope for freedom and the rebirth of the triumph of the African American people through their unceasing struggle. These represent different turning points in the history of African Americans.