African-American Spirituals

Today I am going to be exploring "Songs of Freedom" with the students at Linden Hill School.  We will discuss the coded meanings contained in these songs that the slaves utilized to communicate with one another while planning their escape to freedom.  These songs are so hauntingly beautiful and served multiple purposes on many different levels (to communicate in code amongst the slaves regarding plans for escape, to let the overseers know where the slaves were located, and to motivate and lift spirits to survive another day).  Powerful!