10SocialStudies-Working songs

Over the past few days, we have been studying about African slavery in America back a few decades ago. We were given different questions on this topic and is under the section of "working songs".  These working songs are songs that the slaves would sing while working to keep themselves entertained and alert. These were typically about what they would be doing in their days and about how life was at that moment.

Below is an example of one of these work songs which has the name of "Song from a cotton field" by Bessie Brown. The 2nd video is a song called "I be so glad... when the sun goes down".

                                       

Questions

1.Explain the feeling that you get when you listen to these songs? 
I can feel that it is intended to be an entertaining song and has a nice vintage tune to it, but listening to the lyrics I can feel as if I was one of those slaves back then and expressing what their lives would have been like under those horrid circumstances.

2.What kind of information about slavery did you learn from these songs?
I learned that they had been living under heavy watch and punishment. I also learned that they would have had such a simple life because their only source of main entertainment would have been singing these songs.

3.What can you relate to in any of these songs?
I don't really relate to any of these songs but they do give me a sense just as if I had been one of them!!! It also relates to me because I like listening to music because it can relax me.

4.What do you think the slaves are talking about in these songs?
I think they are talking about what their lives were like and how they really did not enjoy doing this work but are singing to try and get into a better mood and keep all of them alert and somewhat entertained.