1. According to Du Bois, what is the significance of what he calls the “sorrow songs” to African-American history and culture?

These “songs of pain” accompanied black enslaved in the past. These songs meant a lot to They used them to express their suffering and pain given the discrimination of those times, it was like a hymn that strengthened and unified them

1. Which of the songs featured in this chapter us the most significant, in your opinion, and why?

Two very significant songs in my opinion would be “My Way Is Cloudy” and “Steal away”. This two titles convey a lot to me about how black people felt about the abuse that they were suffering.

1. According to Du Bois, what is the significance of what he calls the “sorrow songs” to African-American history and culture? 

        Sorrow songs tell us how hard African American people lived back in eighties. All                       suffering and death are hidden in words of sorrow songs. And yet, they still find a way to              write these songs, make themselves happy and careless about their situation. I believe                   it makes sorrow songs very significant. 

2.  Which of the songs featured in this chapter us the most significant, in your opinion, and why? (Check out the Spotify playlist if you are not familiar with them.) 

      I think that the most significant song in this chapter is “You may bury me in the east”.                    The reason that I choice this song is the lyrics. Lyrics sound to me like no matter what                   you do to me, I am not afraid of death. I am going to heaven in that morning. 

“Sorrow Songs” are the songs that have been sung and passed down through the African American culture from our days of slavery. DuBois talks about how these songs not only tell a story but hold so much more. These songs were sung during times that were meant to break us, as African Americans. But yet they showed just how strong they actually were but able to still show that there was some hope. And that there is still joy in their hearts. Passing on a story that even when the world is against you, still sing through it. for instance when you’re listening to “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen”, you get to hear that pain. You are listening to someone tell you that they have seen some gruesome things but you the melodies give open the door for something soothing. In a way the music created this feel of hope or joy. Knowing the history of the slavery we know all of the horrific things that they went through. But through it they were still able to make music that gave people hope. Hope that better days are coming. Same with “go and tell the mountain”, they knew they were in a messed up situation. However the words told a story of better days to come. So these songs are labeled as “sorrow songs” gives more than just some as DuBois said. 

According to DuBois’s “The Sorrow Songs,” the signification is that these songs are of pain from deep within their souls. They sang for slavery. They sang to get them through the day. They sang for their faith in God. They sang for hope that they would be free one day, even if that day came in death. They took that ache and sang about it to release their grief. They sang to America for turning a blind eye. They worked the land, took care of their children, and fought wars, and Still, they made no distinction in being equal to men and women. They continued to be seen and restrained to slavery.
The most significant song in this chapter is “Roll, Jordan, Roll” because this song is about getting into Heaven and being free. It is a piece of music that individuals have passed down to generations and folks from centuries ago. Even different artists have sung it like John Legend in the 12 Years a Slave soundtrack. It reflects that even today, we are still listening to this song that refers to faith, and as a spiritual believer in God, I do believe when we die, we go to the promised land.

According to Du Bois “sorrow songs” play a big part in American American history. Sorrow Song is a musical composition that spoke of the suffering of enslaved Africans in the United States. These songs intended to allow the lyric poet to express the feelings of a people who were subjected to unjust treatment”. During slavery, African Americans were treated badly and unequally. They have been through so much, therefore, “sorrow songs” was one of the ways they could talk and express their feelings about their lives and the mistreatment they have been getting. These songs are significant because they show and tell the reveal the truth about slavery and how much black people suffer throughout their lives.

The song that I find most significant is My Lord What a Mornin’ by Harry Belafonte. This song expresses the hope that every slave was asking for. Waking up every morning asking and begging God for things to change “No more grief and pain for meI heard from Heaven today, Yes, my Lord’s gonna set me free I heard from Him today”. This song makes me so emotional and the voice shows the pain and fears they had every time they wake up.

1. 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.

2. 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.

According to Du Bois the “Sorrow songs” are of great significance to African American culture as they were the rhythmic cry of the slave and “still remains as the singular spiritual heritage of the nation and the greatest gift of the negro people”.  Each song tells its own story and has its own meaning.  Music was a way to manage with the incredibly difficult times and position these people were put in.

The song that I find most significant is “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen by Mahalia Jackson.  This song really speaks to me even though we would never be able understand the situation these people were in and the extreme poverty.  They were promised federal aid after they were free and this woman is singing this song after learning the news the government will not be fulfilling there promise on delivering aid.

1. According to Du Bois, the “sorrow songs” give us insight into the feelings of African Americans during the time of slavery. These songs were passed down through generations with people not knowing what the words meant, “but knowing well the meaning of its music.” People can feel the breaths of hope through each tune, which points to the fact that even in the toughest of times, they always had faith that justice would prevail. This cultural expression is essential to the African American experience since it has always been a sense of peace and comfort through racism, discrimination, and segregation. 

2. In my opinion, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” is the most significant, because of its extensive message of hope. This song talks about crossing over to freedom from slavery and going to heaven. The display of “faith in death” is so powerful and makes you feel the hope and sorrow that Du Bois describes.