“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” was a favorite of Harriet Tubman‘s. The above portrait is from 1887, taken from the Ohio Historical Society.
The meaning of “Swing Low” is fascinating, as it remains the most famous coded spiritual song of the Underground Railroad. More on that at Manhattan Beach Music, with specific references coded into it.
Most of the code words in the spirituals refer to escape from slavery; the code words were used to hide the underlying, secret meaning of the lyrics. Coded songs were a way for slaves to share the dream of freedom openly with one another, drawing inspiration and hope from the texts. Without understanding the code, the lyrics appeared to have very different, nonthreatening meanings to the slaveholders.
Here is Clara Ward electrifying a very white TV audience:
Looks like we were onto something if the part title is any indication.
Wheeeeeee~
I just woke up from an unintentional evening nap, and here I have Part Two to greet me. And away we go!
CG Beaverton ! I love the newspaper clippings.
Haha. Lilac Wine. I knew these posts were for more than just entertainment.
finally we find out where Ms. Camomile fits into this story. I am excited!
Well, well, well – these clippings seem to confirm my wife’s theory about CGB.
Who is Anais?
Quite possibly Anais = Ms. C?
Book banning, eerie travels, distressed vessels, mysterious identities, romance and civil rights, all on one page of clippings! Oooooo, looking forward to seeing how all this will unfold! My toes are doing a happy dance as I write. Thank you, Mr. S.!
This is gonna be good.
Hoho! Do I sense an exploration of race in the late 19th century? This coincides nicely with my course reading of Douglass….
Wheeeeeeeee
Fourthings, I’m reading that too, tonight in fact. Synchronicity.
Hey! The Springfield Republican is my local paper! Is the Connecticut river about to get a mermaid?
(Have you noticed that newspaper named the “Democrat” in the South always endorse Republicans? Contrariwise, a couple of “Republican” papers I’ve seen in the North tend to endorse Democrats?)
…and how fab is the Clara Ward posting? x