Songs of Slavery and Emancipation
Description
The fight for freedom also included fugitive slaves, free Black people, and their white allies who brought forth a set of songs that were once widely disseminated but are now largely forgotten, the songs of the abolitionists. Often composed by fugitive slaves and free Black people, and first appearing in the eighteenth century, these songs continued to be written and sung until the Civil War. As the movement expanded, abolitionists even published song books used at public meetings.
Mat Callahan presents recently discovered songs composed by enslaved people explicitly calling for resistance to slavery, some originating as early as 1784 and others as late as the Civil War. He also presents long-lost songs of the abolitionist movement, some written by fugitive slaves and free Black people, challenging common misconceptions of abolitionism. Songs of Slavery and Emancipation features the lyrics of fifteen slave songs and fifteen abolitionist songs, placing them in proper historical context and making them available again to the general public. These songs not only express outrage at slavery but call for militant resistance and destruction of the slave system. There can be no doubt as to their purpose: the abolition of slavery, the emancipation of African American people, and a clear and undeniable demand for equality and justice for all humanity.
Product Details
| Publisher | University Press of Mississippi |
| Publish Date | May 23, 2022 |
| Pages | 234 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Paperback / softback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781496840189 |
| Dimensions | 9.0 X 6.0 X 0.5 inches | 0.8 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
The book and the record album constitute a rather rare gift: a rich trove of material that is highly edifying and simultaneously entertaining, an excellent pedagogical and research resource.--Richard Flacks "Socialism and Democracy"
Taken together, the book, CD's and film offer an important window into nineteenth century black protest music. They also offer a fascinating view of how enslaved people resisted the circumstances of their oppression, even at the risk of their lives.--Dick Weissman "Local Lore"
The contents of this book are, quite simply, fascinating and any reader with an interest in the history of slavery, the history of the U.S and the history of American music should have this down as one for their wish list but it's a book that will have a wider appeal than just to those directly interested in the subject matter, because it also represents some outstanding research and a fascinating story about how these songs were brought together and what they mean for society as a whole.--Rick Bayles "Americana UK"
This work would certainly make a strong teaching text for future students and
scholars interested in finding sources about slave resistance from enslaved (singing) voices.
Ultimately, Callahan helps to demonstrate how enslaved and abolitionist songs in America
became 'a powerful weapon against slavery and anti-Black racism, ' still holding great
relevance to this day.--Catherine V. Bateson "Civil War Book Review"
This book is itself an act of liberation. Guided by inspired scholars/activists, we discover long-buried songs that remind us of a burden still not fully shed, but also of the extraordinary grit, creativity, and perseverance of those who have fought the good fight.--Victor Wallis, author of Democracy Denied: Five Lectures on U.S. Politics
Mat Callahan unearths important new evidence concerning the creative, subtle, and persistent resistance of enslaved Black people in the US.--Kevin B. Anderson, author of Marx at the Margins: On Ethnicity, Nationalism, and Non-Western Societies
Mat Callahan's carefully documented and richly interpreted book is the first modern comprehensive compilation of the musical archive of Black resistance to slavery and abolition. I cannot praise this labor of scholarly passion and conscience enough. It is a game changer in the histories of musicology and abolition.--Manisha Sinha, author of The Slave's Cause: A History of Abolition
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