Free At Last
At this point, there was two types of freedom and each one was joyous. There was freedom by escape and finally in January of 1863 there was freedom by proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1963. Although the results were not immediate it spread throughout the country. African Americans were no allowed to join the armed services. By the end of the Civil War, over four million slaves were freed. That means the former slaves had something new to sing and dance about.
Source: Song, sung by Mr. Brown on being removed from the box. Engraving of the box in which Henry Box Brown escaped from slavery in Richmond, Va.
Source: Copy of the Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863. Signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
Source: On January 1, 1863 Abraham Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation and order that all slaves be freed. A man kissing President Lincoln's hand.
Source: Video of Odetta in 1961 singing Oh' Freedom, a spiritual the freed slaves sang after hearing of they were freed. First recorded in 1931.
Lyrics “Oh Freedom” by Odetta
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
No more moaning, no more moaning, no more moaning over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
No more weeping, no more weeping, no more weeping over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
There'll be singin', there'll be singin', there'll be singin' over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
There'll be glory, there'll be glory, there'll glory over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
No more moaning, no more moaning, no more moaning over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
No more weeping, no more weeping, no more weeping over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
There'll be singin', there'll be singin', there'll be singin' over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
There'll be glory, there'll be glory, there'll glory over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
Oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom over me
And before I'd be a slave I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord and be free
Directions: Answer the question about the above document set.
The song that was sung by Henry "Box" Brown was never recorded. What do you think the tone of the song was? Give evidence.
What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
How did it effect both the slaves and the slave owners?
What kind of music do you think the slave owners were singing after the Emancipation Proclamation was read?
After hearing Oh' Freedom, how do you think music will change now that the slaves are freed?
What was the Emancipation Proclamation?
How did it effect both the slaves and the slave owners?
What kind of music do you think the slave owners were singing after the Emancipation Proclamation was read?
After hearing Oh' Freedom, how do you think music will change now that the slaves are freed?