FA 4312 - The Blues (Spring 2019): Music, Dignity, and Protest Songs

This essay delves into the profound impact of music on African slaves and African-American sharecroppers, highlighting its role in preserving human dignity amidst oppressive working conditions. It examines specific songs such as 'No More Auction Block For Me' by Odetta, which captures the plight and indirect protests of slaves, and 'Grizzly Bear,' reflecting traditional work songs of chain gang prisoners rooted in African traditions. The essay also acknowledges Bob Dylan's contributions during peak oppression and mentions Muddy Waters' 'Country Blues' as a form of protest. These songs served as outlets for frustration, mediums for sharing strength, and sources of motivation for meeting daily quotas, ultimately offering stress relief and a sense of freedom for those who sang them. Desklib provides more solved assignments and study resources for students.

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Environmental Science
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
The following paper discusses about the music that has encouraged the African slaves
and the African-American sharecroppers in the later times to maintain the human dignity they
always deserved. They had been forced to live in the working conditions that would be
impossible for all the human beings to live in. Several songs have worked in this matter for those
people so they could survive and build up the protests (Palmer:23)..
At first the song No More Auction Block For Me should be discussed in this case. The
song has been sung by Odetta (Youtube.com). This is regarded as an early slave song. This song
has depicted the plight of the slaves during that period when they were being harassed and
oppressed. This song has been regarded as a medium for the more indirect protests against the
ways they were being mistreated (Palmer: 23).. The lyrics of the songs are reflections of the
protests. The song Grizzly Bear is also a very fine example of the field recordings where the
prisoners from the southern states of America were performing the traditional work songs
(Palmer: 23)..
Bob Dylan emerged as one of the most classical song writers and singers in the time
when the oppressions were at the peak (Palmer: 23).. The chain gang prisoners had been shown
in this song since it reflected on the ways the workers would work on the field. This is a
traditional form of song and dance that is derived from the African roots (Palmer: 23). The song
Country Blues by Muddy Waters is also a very notable piece of song that can be taken as a sign
of protest for the things that used to trouble the workers a lot indeed.
These various songs used to bring out the frustrations of the slaves as they faced several
inequalities in their working areas. The field instruments they had used were the best medium for
bringing out their pathos (Palmer: 23).. Through these songs they could share their strengths with

2ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
the people who also suffered this crisis. When the slaves and late the sharecroppers went on to
sing these songs they felt somewhat confident that they would meet their daily quotas (Fisher:
28). This would help them to avoid the lashes that they would have to receive for not completing
the quotas. This world of the songs made them free of stress and relieves their frustrations. This
rhythmic singing of the slaves encouraged and motivated them a lot.

3ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
References
Palmer, Robert. Deep blues. Penguin Group USA, 1981.
Youtube.com. "Odetta - No More Auction Block For Me". Youtube, 2019,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfbpsmbxE2c.