USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -A spiritual is a type of religious folksong that is most closely associated with the enslavement of African people in the American South.

Detailed explanation-2: -Spirituals (formerly called Negro Spirituals) were the main religious songs of enslaved people of North America. These songs were sung in churches, cotton fields, and as “signal songs” on the Underground Railroad.

Detailed explanation-3: -According to Walter Pitt’s 1996 book, spirituals are a musical form that is indigenous and specific to the religious experience African slaves and their descendants in the United States. Pitts said that they were a result of the interaction of music and religion from Africa with music and religion of European origin.

Detailed explanation-4: -Slave music took diverse forms. Although the Negro spirituals are the best known form of slave music, in fact secular music was as common as sacred music. There were field hollers, sung by individuals, work songs, sung by groups of laborers, and satirical songs.

Detailed explanation-5: -Music was a way for slaves to express their feelings whether it was sorrow, joy, inspiration or hope. Songs were passed down from generation to generation throughout slavery. These songs were influenced by African and religious traditions and would later form the basis for what is known as “Negro Spirituals”. Col.