FAQ About The Influence of Spirituals on Modern Gospel Music
How did spirituals serve as code for escape during slavery?
Many spirituals contained coded messages that guided enslaved people in their quest for freedom by providing instructions, advice, and encouragement for escape routes and timings. For example, songs like "Wade in the Water" were believed to suggest travel by water to obscure scent from slave-catching dogs, while "Steal Away" was used to signal secret gatherings or that an escape was planned. These songs were a stealthy form of communication under the guise of religious activity.
