Inspiration
The story of Henry "Box" Brown is captured in this book, Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine. It is a story of a slave who lost everything and decided to escape to freedom in 1849. He travelled over 350 miles in a 27 hour period arriving in Philadelphia on March 24, 1849. He is one of the most famous runaway slaves because of the unusual method he used to escape. If you click the link below you can listen to the reading of Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine the inspiration for this lesson project.
While reading the book, I was caught up in the idea that he was always singing, humming or playing the banjo. He was singing while he worked and even after he met is future wife, Nancy. Then when everything went away she didn't sing anymore. When he arrived in Philadelphia and was removed from the box he was singing a song he created while in the box. I decided to investigate the significance of music and singing in the lives of a slaves. What I discovered was that they used music in most aspects of their lives and ultimately their escape to freedom. I thought that you might be interested in finding out what I did so I pulled some documents, images and audio files for you to investigate and examine. Music was a crucial part of their survival and your job is to find out why. Good Luck!
While reading the book, I was caught up in the idea that he was always singing, humming or playing the banjo. He was singing while he worked and even after he met is future wife, Nancy. Then when everything went away she didn't sing anymore. When he arrived in Philadelphia and was removed from the box he was singing a song he created while in the box. I decided to investigate the significance of music and singing in the lives of a slaves. What I discovered was that they used music in most aspects of their lives and ultimately their escape to freedom. I thought that you might be interested in finding out what I did so I pulled some documents, images and audio files for you to investigate and examine. Music was a crucial part of their survival and your job is to find out why. Good Luck!
Background Information
Slavery has existed throughout history in one way or another. There are even stories and verses in religious books that tell about people owning people. In America, slavery had been around since the colonial period. They believed that America needed slave labor to build our nation's economy. The three biggest industries were cotton, tobacco, and rice. On average a slave master could own up to 100 slaves on a farm or plantation. By 1860, there were 3.2 million slaves in the United States (Link). Since the slave masters paid money for these slaves they would get very upset to lose even one, especially if they were strong.
When slaves were brought over from Africa they brought their rich culture of music, singing, dancing with them. They used music to keep their culture alive while they were away from home and family. The life of a slave was very difficult with all the hard work they had to to do. They didn't get paid for this work and they were forced to work all the time. If they didn't obey their masters they were yelled at or beaten. Slaves used music in many different ways to escape their horrible situation. They would sing songs in the field and also during the little leisure time they had. If they were lucky to have an instrument, like a banjo, they would play it at night for their family.
Masters in the south were so concerned about slaves playing music and singing that they didn't allow slaves to beating on drums (Link). They thought the rhythms would start fighting and rebellions. In protest, slaves began using different objects as drums including their own bodies. This style was known as "patting juba" or "slapping juba"(Sullivan, 22)
The slave masters figured that slaves would always fight for freedom and try to escape (Link). They had to come up with a way to convince the slaves that they belonged to the white man. The masters used religion to come up with excuses to keep them from trying to escape. They made them go to church and become Christians. The slaves did become Christians and would enjoy singing in church. Little did the masters know that this plan would actually help the slaves to find freedom (Link).
Slaves created songs called "spirituals," which told details about their lives as slaves (Link). Many songs were about how they wanted to live in a "free country," which they called "my home" or "Sweet Canaan, the Promised Land." The land was located on the Northern side of Ohio River, which they called "Jordan." (Link) They sang spirituals that talked about freedom and what they would do if they were ever free. The slaves wanted freedom and would try an get it at any cost. They would be willing to give up their lives. Their music kept secrets from everyone they didn't trust.
Work songs were created as a call back system to help the slaves work as team (Link). One group would call out a verse and another group would say it back to them. This is to show that the second group heard the other group. Then the groups would work together to haul a heavy load away. Sometimes they would just sing to help get through a tough day.
In order to escape slave life they used the Underground Railroad. This wasn't an actual railroad because their were no trains. Instead, it was a series of travel routes for slaves to travel to escape to freedom. These routes helped slaves get to Canada where slavery wasn't allowed. These weren't easy routes and there was always a fear of getting caught by the white men. Music would help guide the way for some of these routes.
When slaves were brought over from Africa they brought their rich culture of music, singing, dancing with them. They used music to keep their culture alive while they were away from home and family. The life of a slave was very difficult with all the hard work they had to to do. They didn't get paid for this work and they were forced to work all the time. If they didn't obey their masters they were yelled at or beaten. Slaves used music in many different ways to escape their horrible situation. They would sing songs in the field and also during the little leisure time they had. If they were lucky to have an instrument, like a banjo, they would play it at night for their family.
Masters in the south were so concerned about slaves playing music and singing that they didn't allow slaves to beating on drums (Link). They thought the rhythms would start fighting and rebellions. In protest, slaves began using different objects as drums including their own bodies. This style was known as "patting juba" or "slapping juba"(Sullivan, 22)
The slave masters figured that slaves would always fight for freedom and try to escape (Link). They had to come up with a way to convince the slaves that they belonged to the white man. The masters used religion to come up with excuses to keep them from trying to escape. They made them go to church and become Christians. The slaves did become Christians and would enjoy singing in church. Little did the masters know that this plan would actually help the slaves to find freedom (Link).
Slaves created songs called "spirituals," which told details about their lives as slaves (Link). Many songs were about how they wanted to live in a "free country," which they called "my home" or "Sweet Canaan, the Promised Land." The land was located on the Northern side of Ohio River, which they called "Jordan." (Link) They sang spirituals that talked about freedom and what they would do if they were ever free. The slaves wanted freedom and would try an get it at any cost. They would be willing to give up their lives. Their music kept secrets from everyone they didn't trust.
Work songs were created as a call back system to help the slaves work as team (Link). One group would call out a verse and another group would say it back to them. This is to show that the second group heard the other group. Then the groups would work together to haul a heavy load away. Sometimes they would just sing to help get through a tough day.
In order to escape slave life they used the Underground Railroad. This wasn't an actual railroad because their were no trains. Instead, it was a series of travel routes for slaves to travel to escape to freedom. These routes helped slaves get to Canada where slavery wasn't allowed. These weren't easy routes and there was always a fear of getting caught by the white men. Music would help guide the way for some of these routes.