According to Harriet Tubman and other conductors of the Underground Railroad, various gospel songs were used to direct fugitive enslaved people to freedom and send messages their captors would not recognize. Some historians dispute this assertion because they claim slaveholders would have easily figured out these coded messages.
Sarah Bradford’s biography of Tubman mentions her use of the song, “Go Down Moses,” and another song to communicate with fugitive enslaved people escaping from Maryland.
Another song, “Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd” was also believed to have been sung by Underground Railroad conductors to remind fugitives to follow the North Star at night. The drinking gourd is another name for the Big Dipper. If they followed the North Star they would be headed north to free states or Canada.
Gospel songs also held the promise of freedom in the afterlife. It’s been suggested that enslaved people were encouraged by their oppressors to sing these songs as they worked and to contemplate their reward in heaven instead of their plight here on Earth. It was somehow supposed to make being enslaved more tolerable. Many historians dispute these claims insisting the songs were a genuine source of comfort for enslaved people and not a tool used by their oppressors.
During the American Civil Rights Movement, Black churches were often the meeting places for activists, and they were used to recruit members to the movement. Singing gospel songs at meetings created a sense of unity and provided a source of strength during protest marches. Songs such as “We Shall Overcome,” “A Change is Gonna’ Come,” and “I Shall Not be Moved” were often sung during sit-ins, peaceful demonstrations, and Civil Rights marches.
“Black and White together someday. Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome one day.” From “We Shall Overcome”
“Just like a tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved.” From “I Shall Not Be Moved”
The words of these songs have a powerful message and combined with the determination of a people demanding to be treated with respect and dignity they sent a powerful message of hope and resolve.
Maybe it’s time we all started singing again because we need to remember Black history is American history and we must do a better job of inclusion in this country.
If you want to learn about Black History during Black History Month, I highly recommend checking out the Yocum African American History Association website, https://www.yocumblackhistory.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoavTntDy_AIVC4rICh3jJwdUEAAYBCAAEgI8O_D_BwE
YAAHA has compiled an extensive timeline from 1619 through 2019 documenting the lives of enslaved Africans and African Americans in the United States.
YAAHA’s resource history book, Black History 1619 to 2019, An Illustrated and Documented African American History is available in eBook and printed format on Amazon.com and through all national bookstores.