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Essay Option 1. Many slave spirituals were songs of
hope and protest. Examining the
spirituals below, briefly explain how and why slave spirituals such as “Go Down
Moses” and “Heaven” had double-meanings and hidden messages. Also, discuss how the spirituals and other
forms of religious expression such as preaching and dance indicate ways African
Americans interpreted Christianity differently than Whites.
Go Down Moses
When Israel was in Egypt’s land
Let my people go
Oppressed so hard they could not stand
Let my people go
Go down Moses
Way down in Egypt land
Tell old Pharaoh
“Let my people go”
Heaven
I got a robe, you got a robe
All o' God's chillun got a robe
When I get to heab'n I'm goin' to put on my robe
I'm goin' to shout all ovah God's Heab'n
, Heab'n
Ev'rybody talkin' 'bout heab'n ain't goin' dere
Heab'n, Heab'n
I'm goin' to shout all ovah God's Heab'n
I got-a wings, you got-a wings
All o' God's chillun got-a wings
When I get to heab'n I'm goin' to put on my wings
I'm goin' to fly all ovah God's Heab'n
, Heab'n
Ev'rybody talkin' 'bout heab'n ain't goin' dere
Heab'n, Heab'n
I'm goin' to fly all ovah God's Heab'n
Slave Spiritual
Student’s
name
Institution
Course
name/number
Instructor
Due
date
Spiritual slave
The
spiritual slave “Go down Moses'' and "Heaven" double hidden meaning
in that Israelites are oppressed by Pharaohs because they are in a foreign
country. They believe because they are
in a foreign country, they have no power to go against the will of their master
and dare to engage in protest to fight for their rights to freedom. The
Israelites are overworked and mistreated by Egyptians, but they have no choice
but to comply. On the flip side,
Israelites are persistent in torture because they hope that they shall be
delivered by their God and take them to heaven. According to Israelites, there
will be no master and slave in heaven, all people are equal before the eye of
the Lord God. They hoped that the exploitation they are going through in Egypt is
not permanent, but one time freedom shall locate them and deliver them from the
torture.
African
Americans interpret Christianity to mean that all people were created in God's
image and likeness; therefore, people are equal before God's eye. They believe
that God created people equally according to the holy books, and no one
deserves better treatment than others. For this reason, therefore, they believe
that color should not be a distinction between black and white America. Black
Americans are ever fighting for equality in the US. They hold to the notion
that God is the owner of all the wealth we have on earth, and some people are
more blessed than others to support those who are less blessed. So when they
are discriminated against by the white people, they believe that the white people
are breaking Christianity rule –the haves are given to share with the have not
because sharing is caring.
On the other side, the white people believe that God is the creator and provider of everything, including their wealth. However, they do not buy the idea of equity as the black Americans do. They believe people...
