Assignment Prompt: “Unshackled Voices: The Legacy of Negro Spirituals”

• Watch the Video
  View “Negro Spirituals: The Music That Helped Free Enslaved African Americans | ABJ Clip” (YouTube link below).
   
• Historical Context
  Explain how spirituals emerged and how West African musical roots combined with Christian themes.
   
• Coded Meanings
  Discuss the ways spirituals carried hidden messages, including directions for escape via the Underground Railroad.
   
• Musical Elements
  Identify defining features such as call-and-response, improvisation, and emotive vocals.
  Show how these elements influenced genres like gospel, blues, and jazz.
   
• Contemporary Relevance
  Examine why spirituals remain significant today and how they continue to inspire modern social justice movements.