Joanne R. Pompano
African American literary life is rooted in West African oral traditions. A rich and diverse culture existed even under slavery. Enslaved Africans brought their cultures, languages and customs with them from their homelands. Slaveholders tried to suppress their African heritage and prevent them from being educated. In an effort to control them and prevent them from rebelling or escaping, slaveholders restricted slaves from speaking their languages and learning to read and write. However, slaves were inventive in their attempts maintain their heritage and storytelling aided in this effort.
Storytelling became a means of empowerment for slaves and allowed them to:
1. preserve and transmit their culture
2. provide entertainment
3. offer some relief from the slavery.
4. encouraged slave solidarity
5. engage in an activity that slaveholders could not entirely control
6. teach children fundamentals of survival
7. instill a strong sense of morality, culture, and tradition
8. voice uncertainties and frustrations
9. offer a message of integration and stability
10. provide a means for transmitting information to runaway slaves
Africans forced into slavery found themselves in unknown lands far from their families, communities and traditions. As slaves they were not allowed to use their native languages for speaking or singing. However, as they worked in the fields they sang work songs and field hollers to pass the time and in their churches they sang spirituals.
These songs were also a way to tell stories, pass messages or escape plots and broadcast news.
A rich oral tradition helped to ensure that slavery did not reduce the creativity or spirit of the African race. Storytelling, songs and telling riddles were a favorite evening pastime for African slaves. They used storytelling and songs to enlighten, educate, entertain and express themselves while fooling their captors.
Folktales- An African American Oral Tradition
African traditions played a vital role in shaping African-American literature. Folktales and spirituals were the combination of their experiences in America merged with the customs and memories from their homelands. The use of hidden meanings in their stories and songs helped to outwit their slaveholders and encourage their fellow slaves.
Storytellers can protest a situation in which they feel they are victims. Slaves often told stories in which the slave owner was outfoxed by his slaves. Fools often turn out to be wiser than the educated; the poor know more than the rich. This allowed the slaves to protest in a way that is not as dangerous because it is not direct.
Folktales are an essential feature of African American oral tradition. Folktales included tales about legendary heroes, heroic deeds, magic, and witches. The most important subject of African American folktales was the oppression and segregation that African Americans were subjected during slavery.
Folktales are the common property of the community as well as a product of a joint and communal authorship. Stories are modified and enriched, as they are transmitted from one person to another and one generation to another.
Spirituals
African American slaves who were not allowed to practice their traditional African religions often adopted Christianity. However, fearing they would attempt to plan escapes and rebellions, slaveholders did not allowed them to gather openly to worship. Instead they had to meet secretly.
Spirituals played an important part in the everyday life of African Americans. Spirituals were influenced by African religious traditions, Christian traditions, and the conditions and experiences of slavery. Spirituals provided hope and comfort to their followers. Spirituals also allowed them to express their feelings of hope and joy events as well as to express their feelings of sorrow and despair. Spirituals assisted in creating a community where they could rejoice and renew their faith in humanity while supporting their fellow slaves.
In some cases, stories and spirituals were used as secret signals to fugitive slaves on the Underground Railroad. In additions, spirituals became a method of conveying information on dangers and escape plans and locations for meeting places. In addition, spirituals provided refuge from their terrible plight and helped them to support fellow slaves.