Lubitz 1

Madison Lubitz
English 9
Mrs. Polasek
25 April 2014
Slavery Era
The quality of being equal, having the same rights and social status is the definition of
equality. The time frame of the 1700s-1900s marks the age of abolition but the time frame I
mainly focused on was between the 1740s- 1780s. The era of slavery has an atmosphere of
division and people pushing for equality. The poem On Being Brought from Africa to America
shows the problems and inequality associated with slavery. Also the song Wade in the Water
shows how slaves started to revolt and the push for equality.
During the 1740s-1780s the second great awakening was taking place, where there
was a push for religious equality. It didnt matter what race or gender people were people they
would preach their religion to anyone no matter what. The article Religion and Slavery written
by the organization PBS states that a few even came to consider it their Christian duty to teach
their slaves about the bible. This allowed African Americans to become literate enough to the
point where they could read the bible. After this many African ministers rose and would later
preach equality. This change in perception came because of the second great awakening,
meaning religion had a big role in the change toward equality. During this time there was also a
revolution. The revolution had to do with people starting to understand and help the slaves in
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their revolt. And some of these people started to look at slavery in a different point of view
(revolutionary changes). Slavery was accepted as a society, which was slowly changing and
would create a division between those who were pro-slavery and those who were anti-slavery.
During the era of slavery, slaves were not rightfully brought from their homeland to
America and forced to change everything, all because the whites thought they were superior to
the blacks. They also thought they were doing the blacks a favor. The poem On Being Brought
from Africa to America written by Phillis Wheatly during 1753-1784 states Twas mercy brought
me from my Pagan land, Taught My Benighted soul to understand That theres a God, that
theres a Saviour too. This shows the inequality of slaves faced because of the color of their
skin and because the whites thought they were devils and they needed to teach them right to
make sure their souls would go to heaven. Color dictated who was looked down on and who
was superior. Another line from the poem On Being Brought from Africa to America states
some view our sable race with scornful eye, their colour is a diabolic die. Remember,
Christians, negroes, black as chain, may be refind, and join th angelic train. This also shows
the inequality and neglect shown to the African Americans because of their origin and color.
When slaves were escaping they used secret codes hidden in songs to help each other
along the journey, giving them guidance and hope. The quoted lines from the song Wade in the
Water came from the Bridge Tower organization who works to decode slave songs. One line
from the song states the following I want you to follow him down to Jordan stream. The
meaning of this line is to tell escaping slaves to get off the trail and into the water to make
sure the dog slave catchers couldnt sniff out their trail (Maryland and Underground Railroad).
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Another line from the song Wade in the Water states You know it chills my body but not my
soul. This quote means that the journey is going to be long but the pain is worth it in the end
when and if they make it to freedom. The Slaves started to push for equality by revolting (Mintz
S., McNeil S.). Slaves revolted by running away and breaking tools. They used repeated lyrics to
give messages and so the escaping slaves would be able to remember it along the way. The
Underground Railroad started when people dedicated themselves to helping escaping slaves
(slave songs). This created the division of those who believed slavery was immoral and those
who thought it was a necessity.
The era of slavery is an era of division and people pushing for equality. The poem On
Being Brought from Africa to America reveals the problems with slavery and division between
those who were pro-slavery and those who were anti-slavery, and the song Wade in the Water
shows the push for equality by the act of the slaves revolting. This song and poem
demonstrates the political atmosphere of the slavery era through there content. The poem and
song prove the political atmosphere proven in the previous paragraph but also by being written
during the era because it shows the view first hand.





Lubitz 4


On Being Brought from Africa to America
By Phillis Wheatley 17531784 Phillis Wheatley


'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:
Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.
Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
"Their colour is a diabolic die."
Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,
May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.










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Wade in the water,
Wade in the water,
Wade in the water, Gods gonna trouble the water.

If you dont believe Ive been redeemed,
Gods gonna trouble the water
I want you to follow him down to Jordan stream,
Gods gonna trouble the water
You know chilly water is dark and cold,
Gods gonna trouble the water
You know it chills my body but not my soul.
Gods gonna trouble the water

Wade in the water,
Wade in the water,
Wade in the water,
Gods gonna trouble the water.

Now if you should get there before I do,
Gods gonna trouble the water
Tell all my friends that Im coming too,
Gods gonna trouble the water
Sometimes Im up lord and sometimes I;m down,
Gods gonna trouble the water
Sometimes Im on level to the ground,
Gods gonna trouble the water
Gods gonna trouble the water.

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Works Cited
Mintz, S, and McNeil, S. "Digital History." Digital History. N.p., 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/era.cfm?eraID=6&smtid=1>.
"On Being Brought from Africa to America." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web.
14 Apr. 2014. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174733>.
"Pathways to Freedom | Secrets: Signs and Symbols." Pathways to Freedom. Maryland Public
Television, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. <http://pathways.thinkport.org/secrets/>.
"Religion and Slavery." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2narr2.html>.
"Revolutionary Changes and Limitations: Slavery." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall
Association, n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ushistory.org/us/13d.asp>.
"Slave Songs." City of London Festival, 2007. Web. Mar.-Apr. 2014.
<http://bridgetower.lgfl.org.uk/lesson4/assets/Lesson%20Card%204.pdf>.