CoilyFields....thanks for starting this thread.
I'm learning more about where many of our black church traditions originated. Our ancestors endured alot and needed encouragement to get through.
Many of our old church songs come from the struggles of slavery as well. For example...
Swing Low Sweet Chariot ....said to be a favourite of Harriet Tubman, the “Moses of her people".
This link has a host of negro spirituals...
http://www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/index.htm
Health&hair28, I love this thread too...
It's really nice in here, thanks
CoilyFields
Health&hair28. thank you for mentioning our ancestors and how so many of 'our' traditions originated. The song you mentioned is touching my heart and here's partly why.
In college, I took everything "Black" course-wise that was offered. Instead of 'regular' history
, I took African American History, for my PE class, I took African Dance (this lead to the teacher inviting me to join her Dance Troupe, I accepted and the Dance Journey began in learning other cultures).
I found out from my 'History" teacher that in the song 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot', that they were singing about a ship coming to take them back home to Africa. When they sang "
I looked over 'Jordan' and what did I see" it was 'code' for the Atlantic River, they were praying for the 'Band of Angels' coming forth on that ship to carry them 'Home' to the 'Mother Land', Africa.
Since learning that, this song makes me cry inside, for I can't help but imagine the hurt they were feeling so deep inside and wanting to be free. It grieves me because 'death' (then) was what they felt was their only 'freedom'.
As a culture, we've paid such a heavy price for life. The only thing that concerns me is that 'here' we were given the true freedom of 'knowing' Jesus Christ. Had we gone back to Africa, would we know God, still? As God answered the cries of the childen of Israel and sent Moses as their 'Exodus', God also heard our cries of our Ancestors and sent us a sure Deliver'...
And now... we got 'hats' and Coily and you and
Laela, and
auparavant, and
BrandNew, and
MissMasala, and
LadyPBC and
Iwanthealthyhair67,
loolalooh,
GoddessMaker,
Sashaa08,
TraciChanel,
mst1908,
nathansgirl1908,
growinghealthyhair,
lav123,
sidney, and @ all of everyone here in our 'forum'...
I'm back on topic... that song just made think of so much we've 'died' for...
--------------------------
Okay Ladies..... NOW. What about
the Shoes 'we' wear to Church.
I am SO serious about this. Growing up, it was 'patent leather' shoes for us...
Black patent leather in the Winter and White patent leather for the Spring and Summer. I am not kidding.
If we wore sandals, we had to wear lace socks (lace anklets) with them. No bare toes were allowed. My family was so 'strict' when it came to 'modesty'.
I think that's why I'm the way that I am...
I love Church! Looking back, that's where life started and continues. I loved going to the SDA services. My Mom's sister was Seventh Day Adventist and it was Sabbath from Sunset Friday and all day on Saturday's Sunset. We loved it.
As a child I have a host of happy memories and they are centered mostly around being in Church.
Jesus was always in my life in so many ways, leading me here as to other places. Wow...
Coily... this thread is bringing up alot of memories for me. Happy ones. I'm remembering many things from growing up that I haven't thought about for a long, long time.
Thanks again for this.