Responding and Reflecting - New Historical #4 B.H

Reading the book Beloved while looking through New Historical Lens gave me knowledge that I haven't known from History classes. What surprised me were these slavery songs that were used in many different ways to show emotion, to communicate with another former slave, or even entertain each other through rough times. Initially, songs were a way to gain happiness once more where they work. Whenever there was a huge amount of labor to do, slaves sing a song to uplift their spirits once again. Most of their songs consist of praising to the lord; asking their Lord to help save them from slavery and guide them to

freedom. Additionally, songs are a way to express feelings or entertainment but slaves used their songs as some form of code that only they could understand. These songs could mean going to heaven or how they feel right now, but in a deeper meaning the song means the pathway to freedom is a dangerous road. Other songs can mean a new way to freedom or rumors they have heard, which gives crucial information to slaves all while their owners think its just a song. One famous song Wade In The Water had important information about how to escape when bloodhounds are finding them, to hide in water so that their scent won't be exposed to the dogs. Another famous song Follow The Drinking Gourd gave full insight to slaves exactly how to escape slavery and find freedom. It included what time the slaves should escape and what direction they should be heading, referring to The Big Dipper in the sky and the sound of Quail. From the beginning, their songs were used to bring back happiness in them while doing labor. From there on, it led to secret coding in their songs that are so descriptive that it gave out pinpoint locations and time to where freedom was.