2023 Theses Doctoral

The Spirit Sings Free! What the Negro Spiritual Teaches Us About Community Care, Education, and Divine Liberation

Hoxter, David

An insightful look into the history of the people who were brought to the Western world in chains through the middle passage, and their descendants, can be found in the folk music they created. This music, commonly known as the Negro Spirituals, captures the spirit of the lived experience of a people who prayed, worked, laughed, cried, resisted and so much more. The study of this music can serve as a starting point to understanding the history of those who were enslaved. This paper acknowledges that the freedom of educators to teach this history in traditional educational spaces is currently under attack, and argues that the Black church should take the lead in teaching members of their own community about their history and culture. To assume this responsibility would be an act of institutional selflessness that is not rooted in evangelistic outreach, but is a labor that would help an oppressed people claim their divine liberation.