1. Gospel Music 1865:the abolition of slavery
Before 1865 almost all the first Africans who arrived in the new world were slaves
Working on plantations or in the town
Slavery was an important issue facing the church,as slaves were allowed to meet for Christian services

2. Many tried running to a “free country’’
that they called Sweet Canaan (the Promised land)
This country was the Northern side of the Ohio
River (called Jordan)

3. Spirituals and Work Songs
During slavery and afterwards,workers were allowed to sing songs
This was so efforts of a heavy work load could be co-ordinated
Example: chain gang songs
Spirituals used code words
Example: the Underground Railroad, a organisation for helping slaves to run away

4. The Underground Railroad
A fugitive could use several ways of escape
Walk at night
Waded in water (so that dogs could not smell their tracks )
Trains where they could hide and ride away
Spirituals like “wade in the water, The Gospel Train and Sweet Chariot refer directly to the UGRR

5. Pioneers of Gospel
Thomas A Dorsey ( ) The father of gospel music
Mahalia Jackson ( ) sang before Dr. Martin Luther King speech (I have a dream)
James Cleveland ( ) winner of four Grammys

7. Music Connections starting with the oral tradition