Slave Culture Into the Harlem Renaissance: Finding a Home in Modernism
Slave Culture and the Harlem Renaissance:
Finding a Home in Modernism For years scholars have noted the importance in history of the African- Americans from the time of the Atlantic slave trade, even up to current culture and entertainment. As prominent as the slave trade is taught within the schools and the education systems, there has been little noted in the history classes about the art and literature of that time period for African-Americans. However, in spite of the little we know of the arts that defined the people and the culture as far as the antebellum slave history goes, one primary source that offers outsiders a glimpse into any culture is the music. As far as the history of African-Americans and their cultural music goes, slaves were known for their “call and response” songs. These songs were part of the culture as religious and spiritual songs, songs to help the slaves get through their work load when tired, and even at times a form of banter and of course, for entertainment. In instances of chopping wood or husking corn, planting or plowing fields, these songs often had rhythm that went along with the labor tasks of the slaves. Some slaves that worked in more solo situations, such as a kitchen in their master’s home, would sing songs that had a more defined sense of individuality and personal lyrics. According to Margaret Niehaus-Sauter, “individual work songs often contained more dramatic and personal lyrics. Thus, very often, slaves sang while working, to provide either a good beat for their work or encouragement during the exhausting labor.” There is no doubt that slaves had their personal motivation for the use of music in their culture, but it is important to identify the artistic quality in this aspect of their culture as well. It was from such roots that many believe the early poets, writers, artists and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance arose from. The deep passion of the African-American soul, along with the struggles and
Finding a Home in Modernism For years scholars have noted the importance in history of the African- Americans from the time of the Atlantic slave trade, even up to current culture and entertainment. As prominent as the slave trade is taught within the schools and the education systems, there has been little noted in the history classes about the art and literature of that time period for African-Americans. However, in spite of the little we know of the arts that defined the people and the culture as far as the antebellum slave history goes, one primary source that offers outsiders a glimpse into any culture is the music. As far as the history of African-Americans and their cultural music goes, slaves were known for their “call and response” songs. These songs were part of the culture as religious and spiritual songs, songs to help the slaves get through their work load when tired, and even at times a form of banter and of course, for entertainment. In instances of chopping wood or husking corn, planting or plowing fields, these songs often had rhythm that went along with the labor tasks of the slaves. Some slaves that worked in more solo situations, such as a kitchen in their master’s home, would sing songs that had a more defined sense of individuality and personal lyrics. According to Margaret Niehaus-Sauter, “individual work songs often contained more dramatic and personal lyrics. Thus, very often, slaves sang while working, to provide either a good beat for their work or encouragement during the exhausting labor.” There is no doubt that slaves had their personal motivation for the use of music in their culture, but it is important to identify the artistic quality in this aspect of their culture as well. It was from such roots that many believe the early poets, writers, artists and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance arose from. The deep passion of the African-American soul, along with the struggles and