Frederick douglass why slaves sing

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Remarks at the Women Rights Convention. At least, such is my experience. I have often sung to drown my sorrow, but seldom to express my happiness. Crying for joy, and singing for joy, were alike uncommon to me while in the jaws of slavery. The singing of a man cast away upon a desolate island might be as appropriately considered as evidence of contentment and happiness, as the singing of a slave; the songs of the one and of the other are prompted by the same emotion.

It was common for people who argued in favor of slavery to say that slaves were happy, pointing to the fact that slaves would often sing while they worked. But Douglass says that this is completely backward: slaves don't sing because they're happy, they sing because they're sad.

The songs Douglass is talking about, by the way, are called "sorrow songs," out of which evolved the blues. Parents Home Homeschool College Resources. Study Guide. Mini Essays Suggested Essay Topics. Quotes Important Quotes Explained. Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5. Quote 2 I did not, when a slave, understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently incoherent songs.

I was myself within the circle; so that I neither saw nor heard as those without might see and hear. Popular pages: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.