Songs of Slavery and Emancipation

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Enslaved individuals used music as a powerful tool for resistance, escape, and rebellion, with songs that celebrated liberty and revolutionary heroes. These compositions, often misunderstood as mere laments, were vibrant calls for freedom, including the Haitian Revolution. Mat Callahan uncovers both long-forgotten slave songs and abolitionist anthems, revealing their historical significance and the urgent demand for justice and equality. Featuring lyrics and context for fifteen slave songs and fifteen abolitionist songs, this work challenges prevailing misconceptions and highlights the songs' militant spirit against slavery.