Our children, America’s children, and children of the world need to know that the Negro Spirituals are a historical marker of the African Americans’ faith in God. Their faith brought them through and out of slavery. As in Joshua 4:6-7, when the children ask what is meant by these “…stones” (songs), we should be prepared to answer them, informing them of the significance of faith in God to the ensl
aved Africans. As African Americans, we must lead the way in a “renaissance”—an awakening –a new appreciation and valuing of the Negro Spiritual. We must be the teachers of our songs—not leave this to the Europeans or European Americans, alone. We should embrace the sincere efforts and pure motives of others, but this is a torch that we must pass to our posterity. Our children need to know that these songs are a historical marker of the African Americans’ faith in God. As in Joshua 4:6-7, when the children ask what is meant by these …stones (songs), we should be prepared to answer them, informing them of the significance of faith in God to the enslaved Africans. The Africans, in America, depended on God to bring them out of bo***ge, and they wanted to spend the “after life” with Him. Negro Spirituals are a symbol of the Africans’ faith in this strange land, and these songs should be a memorial of their faith for their descendants and the world. In addition to the fact that many Negro Spirituals were double-coded and used in the historical Underground Railroad, it is also noted that the Negro Spirituals served as a foundation for truly American music. For, out of the spirituals came the blues, jazz, gospel, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, soul, and other genres possessing unique rhythmic and melodic elements, form akin to an authentic African style, characterized by great expression, including bodily movement, and deep emotion. Negro Spirituals have impacted American music in a very distinct way, as European folk tunes used in the music of nationalistic composers of various countries in Europe. We are dedicated to bringing together a group of people of the Christian faith whose common goal is to:
1) Facilitate the preservation and promotion of the Negro Spiritual in worship and special events of the church and community;
2) Help bring about an awareness to our children and promote an awareness to future generations that the Negro Spiritual is a memorial of the “enslaved Africans’ faith in God,” and,
3) Assist others in developing a deeper appreciation for the Negro Spiritual and its impact on truly American music.
