In the South, spirituals were an important way to express slave life. In a way these spirituals were a form of poetry for them that reflected their language, their music and their spiritual concerns. Douglass wrote his autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom (1855), in which discusses the negro spirituals they sang since they were forced to “make a noise” so that their masters would know of their whereabouts at all times and, at the same time, keep them from communicating with one another so they could not plot any schemes to escape. Another method used was whistling so that the masters knew that their servants were not eating the food that was to be delivered. Douglass referred to these songs as “...a testimony against slavery, and a prayer
When the slaves are singing songs on their way to the Great House Farm, Douglass mainly focuses on his utter confusion and sadness regarding them. He does, though, briefly touch on a religious angle. “Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains,” he describes. Douglass expresses the pain him and his people are enduring, and explaining how faith in God allows them to continue to endure. I believe that this is the optimistic side of Douglass’s passion in the appendix- optimism, to be clear, meaning it pertains to the positive effects of believing in a God, not optimism pertaining to the situation itself.
There were also different types of folk music even before the American slave era, the songs based from different melodies told stories and were passed down generation by generation. Folk music was when manual labour was happening and the workers wanted something to cheer them up, keep them motivated. So they sang, this was folk music as well. Generally opinions differ of the creation of folk music. People said it reflects the character of the race that made it, some said it came from the reasons that I’ve already said.
However, that didn’t stop the slaves from finding other instruments to play or continuing the handclapping or foot stomping. Quite the contrary, the music became an essential part of their well being as they were enduring and come to endure more hardships at the hands of their slave masters. African music influenced the slave’s songs in the new world like Africa; slave songs reflected the African religious beliefs. The slaves believed in a higher power and
In “The Wife of His Youth” by Charles W. Chesnutt, there were many stereotypical views on race and gender in the lives of Mr. Ryder and Eliza Jane. In the nineteenth century, every man’s goal was to be successful and the “breadwinner” of the family. However, not every man had the chance to start out big, for Mr. Ryder, he started as Sam Taylor. Sam Taylor was a freeborn slave, where he worked in a plantation as an apprentice and had no source of education. Eventually, the plantation owner wanted to sell him for more money as a slave, but Sam Taylor didn’t want to live the life of a slave.
Douglass effectively describes the situations in which the concept of religion and practice of slavery walk hand in hand; thus exposing his problems with the religion of the land. While Douglass’ narrative is filled with colorful depictions of his life as a slave as well as those around him, he puts careful attention to recording his thoughts of his masters’ actions. This allows for an objective-basis for discussion. From there Douglass lays out the inconsistencies and problems with religion that so effect his life. In August, 1832, my master attended a Methodist camp-meeting… I indulged a faint hope that his conversion would lead him to emancipate his slaves… I was disappointed… It neither made him to be humane to his slaves, nor to emancipate them.
His speech consisted of various literary elements such as figurative language and repetitive phrases that painted a vivid mural in the mind of the listener: “My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, From every mountainside, let freedom ring!” Dr. King accommodates his audience by organizing the structure of his “I Have a Dream” speech by implementing the techniques of Greek persuasion Ethos, Logos, and Pathos into his writing. King begins his speech by stating facts about the Emancipation Proclamation and addresses how the
" The caged bird songs with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom. " This quotation is a significant stanza of the poem, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelo. It explicitly displays the true meaning of the poem and defines actions of a " caged bird." Blackness of skin acts as a barrier for the black race; it prevents freedom from a person. During Maya Angelo's time her belief for freedom and equality began to spread among the black race, so she "sings" for freedom.
Dr. King uses the word “dream” to conjure up the idea of a subconscious reality, where anything is possible. He next describes the Emancipation Proclamation as a “great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came was a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.” (Dr. Martin Luther King pg. 45-46) The metaphor’s that he uses are “a beacon light of hope”, “flames of withering injustice”, “Joyous daybreak” and “night of their captivity.” These are very powerful metaphors that must have brought much cheering from Dr. King’s audience. Though they are now free of bondage, Dr. King draws his audience to the fact that the Negro’s are still not “free”.
MLK Rhetorical Analysis Essay After having to endure the terrible ordeal of segregation for countless years, African-Americans began to stand up for civil justice and started a movement in order to establish egalitarianism among all people, regardless of racial or social background. Among these courageous leaders was Baptist minister and activist Martin Luther King Jr., whose memorable and remarkable speech “I Have a Dream” heartened and inspired many Americans to peacefully rise against prejudice and instead increase compassion and equality for all. King successfully implemented his message in this speech through the literary and figurative devices of allusions, metaphors, and anaphora, therefore leaving a profound effect and impression on his audience. Through references of past events with allusions, King keeps the attention of his audience and allows them to establish a connection with the current topic discussed in his speech. Since he knew he was speaking to his followers in addition to radical opposition, King introduced a classic American statement used for the past hundreds of years when referencing the Declaration of Independence’s words of affirming that “all men are created equal”, regardless of origin or background of any sort.