Underground Railroad: The William Still Story

Coded Spirituals

Name: Coded Spirituals
Uploaded: 2011-12-29T12:55:17Z
Duration: P147S
Description: Many of the well-known Negro Spirituals popular in the United States during the mid-1800s are much more complex than they first appear. Historians of the Underground Railroad refer to them as "Coded Spirituals". What that means is that the words actually have two meanings; one that is immediately apparent and one that's hidden just below the surface.

Clip | 2m 27s | Video has closed captioning.

Many of the well-known Negro Spirituals popular in the United States during the mid-1800s are much more complex than they first appear. Historians of the Underground Railroad refer to them as "Coded Spirituals". What that means is that the words actually have two meanings; one that is immediately apparent and one that's hidden just below the surface.

Aired: 02/05/12

Rating: TV-PG

Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning

Funding provided by CN Railway, Rogers Cable Network, Canada Media Fund, and Rogers Documentary Fund. Additional support from David W. Pretty, Vernon Achber & Phil Lind, and CPB.

Coded Spirituals

More History Shows