Frederick Douglass: An Interpretation Of Negro Spirituals

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Each time I have read this narrative several times and each time I learn more about history and my interpretation of historical content. This particular has allowed me to focus closely on interpretations of Negro spirituals and mainstream media trivialization of the slave song. Frederick Douglass in his autobiography spoke of the “Ring Shout” and I learned that the music is not about shouting. In researching the ring shout, the word shout is a derivative of the Arabic word “shawṭ”. Scholars have commented that the word origin probably comes from enslaved Muslims from Africa and subsequently was engrained in the slave culture before Christianity was forced upon the culture (Stuckey). I would surmise that it would infuriate Douglass and the enslaved people of history to know that their heartfelt spirituals are now trivialized by the media and entertainment industries. One particular spiritual that comes to mind is “Go Down Moses” which contains the famous line “Let My People Go”. There are countless references to that one particular line in movies, television and other media sources. Most of the time, especially in the visual entertainment industry the line is part of the dialogue for a laugh. …show more content…

When I have read any of the slave narratives I am convinced that humanity is the direct result of biology and that a supreme being does not exist. Douglass was very colorful in his description of the torture and beating of slaves. He used many examples to convey the inhumanity of master upon slave. The abuse upon the backs of the slaves is atrocious and when death occurs, it is a relief. I am often relieved when death as a gift is bestowed upon the tortured. The death of a slave in Frederick Douglass narrative makes no difference to the dead slave only to the living

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