The slave trades

1-What's use of spirituals and what they are?

Spirituals are kind of songs that in the past the slaves used it as a way to connect with each other and A spiritual is a type of religious folksong that is most closely associated with the enslavement of African people in the American South. The songs proliferated in the last few decades of the eighteenth century leading up to the abolishment of legalized slavery in the 1860s. 

2-Who is Harriet Tubman?

Known as the “Moses of her people,” Harriet Tubman was enslaved, escaped, and helped others gain their freedom as a “conductor" of the Underground Railroad. and The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and Safe Houses established in the United state during the early to mid-19th century, and used by enslaved Africa Americans to escape into Free state and Canada.

3-Follow the Drinking Gourd

This song suggests escaping in the spring as the days get longer. It also refers to quails which start calling each other in April. The drinking gourd is a water dipper which is a code name for the Big Dipper which points to the Pole Star towards the north. Moss grows on the north side of dead trees, so if the Big Dipper is not visible, dead trees will guide them north.

Here is the link to the song:

FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD - THE FOLK SONG THAT LED TO FREEDOM!!! - YouTube

The lyrics of the song:

Follow the drinkin' gourd
Follow the drinkin' gourd
For the old man is comin' just to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinkin' gourd

When the sun comes back, and the first quail calls
Follow the drinkin' gourd
For the old man is waiting just to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinkin' gourd

Follow the drinkin' gourd
Follow the drinkin' gourd
For the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinkin' gourd

Well the river bank makes a mighty good road
Dead trees will show you the way
Left foot, peg foot, travelin' on
Follow the drinkin' gourd

Follow the drinkin' gourd
Follow the drinkin' gourd
For the old man is waiting to carry you to freedom
Follow the drinkin' gourd                               NOTE: this wasn't the full lyrics, the full lyrics were too long.

4-How are these events still significant today?

- Racism still evident today, because of slavery years ago.

-Evidence of this seen today with the black lives matter movement.

-Through music-Many musician today Continue to talk protest about racism in America.